Department and Institute of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
J Clin Nurs. 2008 Mar;17(5A):133-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02186.x.
To determine the effectiveness of using the empowerment concept during the development of a mutual-help group for haemodialysis.
Haemodialysis has different impacts on patients' physical, psychological and social health. The effects of mutual-support group have been found in groups of chronic disease patients. However, none of them were for haemodialysis patients.
An intervention-evaluation design was used for this study. The intervention process was divided into four phases: (1) assessment, (2) planning, (3) action and (4) evaluation/feedback. As part of this study, a mutual-help group was formed that met eight times for group activities over a three-month study period.
There were three indicators of empowerment outcomes. Physical symptoms decreased significantly after the patients had participated in the mutual-help group (z = -2.893, p < 0.05), especially symptoms such as itchy skin, insomnia and spasms. In terms of the patients' social network and social functions, social support increased significantly (z = -3.412, p < 0.05). The total score for the patients' quality of life also showed a significant improvement (z = -3.408, p < 0.05) with the emotional and health dimensions improving the most.
This study provides evidence that supports the use of mutual-help groups as a means of aiding patients with chronic illness to cope with their illness. Mutual-help groups are a necessary future direction in nursing that will improve the quality of health care for patients' with chronic illness.
The study found that a mutual-help group not only can improve patient's illness adaptability, but also brought about a range of other empowerment outcomes. It also had many positive impacts for the hospital. Therefore, it will be beneficial for the patients with a chronic illness if health care professionals can be sensitive to relevant factors and construct mutual-support groups based on the empowerment concept.
确定在开发血液透析互助小组过程中使用赋权概念的效果。
血液透析会对患者的身体、心理和社会健康产生不同的影响。互助小组对慢性病患者群体的效果已得到证实。然而，目前还没有针对血液透析患者的研究。
本研究采用干预评估设计。干预过程分为四个阶段：（1）评估，（2）计划，（3）行动和（4）评估/反馈。作为本研究的一部分，成立了一个互助小组，在为期三个月的研究期间，小组活动共进行了八次。
有三个赋权结果指标。患者参加互助小组后，身体症状明显减轻（z = -2.893，p < 0.05），尤其是皮肤瘙痒、失眠和痉挛等症状。在患者的社交网络和社交功能方面，社会支持显著增加（z = -3.412，p < 0.05）。患者生活质量的总分也显示出显著改善（z = -3.408，p < 0.05），其中情感和健康维度的改善最为明显。
本研究提供了证据支持互助小组作为帮助慢性病患者应对疾病的一种手段。互助小组是护理的一个必要未来方向，将提高慢性病患者的医疗保健质量。
该研究发现，互助小组不仅可以提高患者的疾病适应能力，还带来了一系列其他赋权结果。它也对医院产生了许多积极影响。因此，如果医疗保健专业人员能够对相关因素保持敏感，并根据赋权概念构建互助小组，这将对慢性病患者有益。
