IMPACT OF COMPASSIONATE NURSING CARE ON QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG DIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease often progresses to end-stage renal disease requiring long-term dialysis, which imposes substantial physical, psychological, and social burdens on patients and frequently results in reduced quality of life. Although dialysis is essential for survival, strict treatment schedules, dietary and fluid restrictions, dependence on healthcare facilities, and emotional strain negatively affect patients’ daily functioning and overall well-being. Compassionate nursing care that emphasizes patient empowerment and engagement has emerged as an important strategy to enhance patient-centered outcomes in dialysis settings. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dialysis modality and nurse-led patient empowerment on quality of life, with patient engagement examined as a mediating variable. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed. A total of 400 adult patients undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in hospitals in Lahore participated in the study. Structured Likert-scale questionnaires were used to measure dialysis modality experience, nurse-led patient empowerment, patient engagement, and quality of life. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability testing, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and mediation analysis. Results: The findings revealed that dialysis modality and nurse-led patient empowerment were significantly associated with patient engagement. Patient engagement was significantly linked with quality of life and demonstrated a significant mediating effect between dialysis modality, nurse-led empowerment, and quality of life. These results indicate that higher levels of engagement contribute to improved patient outcomes. Regression analysis showed that patient engagement significantly predicted quality of life (β = 0.57), explaining 33% of the variance in quality of life, while mediation analysis confirmed significant indirect effects of both dialysis modality and nurse-led empowerment. Conclusion: The study concludes that compassionate and empowerment-focused nursing care enhances patient engagement, which in turn improves the quality of life among dialysis patients. Strengthening nurse-led empowerment strategies and promoting active patient participation are essential for optimizing patient-centered care in dialysis environments.