Effect of Spiritual Counseling Based on the Sound Heart Model on Anxiety of Hemodialysis Patients

Anxiety disorders, as spiritual distresses in hemodialysis patients are associated with an increased risk of suicide that requires spiritual care. Evidence suggests that spiritual care is not based on a model consistent with the values and culture of Muslim patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of spiritual counseling based on the Sound Heart Model on the anxiety of hemodialysis patients.

This clinical trial was conducted in 2018, for110 hemodialysis patients of Kamkar hospital in Qom. After convenience sampling according to inclusion criteria, obtaining informed the written consent and random allocation of samples to experimental and control groups, in the support-educational system, spiritual care based on a sound heart model was performed for patients and families of the experimental group, in 12 individual sessions, 35 to 45 minutes according to the patientschr('39') self-care ability. Beck Anxiety Questionnaire was completed by both groups before and after the intervention.

Independent t-test was used to compare anxiety between the two groups and a paired t-test was used to compare the level of anxiety before and after intervention in each group. The significance level of 0.05. Calculations were performed with SPSS software version 24. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups before the intervention (p = 0.530). After the intervention, the difference was significant (P = 0.000). The mean score of anxiety in the control group did not show any significant difference before and after the intervention (p = 0.692), the difference was significant in the intervention group (P <0.001).

Considering the impact of spiritual beliefs on patients adaptation, the necessity of community-based and holistic care, attention to patientschr('39') spiritual needs and findings of this study that indicate the effectiveness of  spiritual counseling in reducing anxiety in hemodialysis patients, the use of a sound heart model is recommended.