The Effect of Peer Support Groups on Sexual function in Patients Treated with Haemodialysis

Backgrounds & Patients who are under haemodialysis experience a lot of sexual problems which can lead to a reduction in their quality of life. Peer support groups are a kind of social supports that in which peers who have similar experience present some advice to others to enhance their quality of life. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of peer support group on sexual functionin patients treated with haemodialysis.
Material & A clinical trial research with two cases and control groups was performed on 64 patients undergoing haemodialysis in Vasei hospital of Sabzevar in 2013. The sampling was random. Patients were divided into two groups of intervention and control using the block permutation .The Participants attended 8 weekly sessions comprising 2 hours each week. The topic was according to the patients’ needs and interests. Research tools were: demographic questionnaire, sexual function of part dialysis patients, life quality Questionnaire (KDQOL-SFTM). For data analysis, descriptive and deductive (paied t- test and independent t-test) statistics SPSS version 18 was used.
After the completion of the study, there was not a significant difference between sexual health situation scores of two groups (case and control) (p value>0.05). After attending peer support group in case group there were not a significant differences in mental health situation scores (p value>0.05) .
According to the results of this study, attending peer support group in hemodialysis patients will improve their sexual function. But this change was not significant.