The Psychosocial Health Issues and Coping Strategies of Hemodialysis Patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis remain significant global and local health concerns, particularly due to their profound psychosocial implications. While dialysis effectively sustains life, it imposes substantial emotional, social, and economic burdens that influence patients’ quality of life and overall well-being. This study aimed to assess the psychosocial health issues, psychosocial distress, and coping mechanisms of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at the Palawan Medical Mission Group Multipurpose Cooperative (PMMGMPC), and to develop an evidence-informed psychosocial support guideline for clinical application. A quantitative descriptive–correlational research design was employed. A total of 89 adult hemodialysis patients were selected through purposive sampling from a population of 115 patients. Data were collected using a structured and validated questionnaire measuring psychosocial health issues across five domains (economic, emotional, healthcare-related, social, and treatment-related), psychosocial distress (psychological and social dimensions), and coping mechanisms (adaptive and maladaptive). Descriptive statistics, weighted mean, and Spearman’s rank-order correlation were used for data analysis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that psychosocial health issues were generally moderately evident, with economic burden emerging as a prominent concern, particularly in relation to employment disruption and financial dependence. Psychosocial distress was also observed at a moderate level, with both psychological and social dimensions contributing to patients’ overall experience. Respondents demonstrated the use of both adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms, indicating variability in adjustment to long-term dialysis treatment. Correlational analysis showed that most demographic variables were not significantly associated with psychosocial outcomes, although selected factors such as income and marital status exhibited weak but significant relationships. Notably, a significant relationship was identified between social aspects of psychosocial distress and coping mechanisms, underscoring the importance of social support systems in patient adaptation. The findings highlight the multidimensional nature of psychosocial challenges among hemodialysis patients and the need for structured, integrated psychosocial care within dialysis units. Based on these results, an evidence-informed psychosocial support guideline was proposed to enhance patient-centered care, improve coping, and promote better clinical and psychosocial outcomes. The study underscores the importance of incorporating routine psychosocial assessment and multidisciplinary support in hemodialysis settings, particularly in resource-constrained contexts.