The Effect of Spirituality on Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Its Correlation with the Mental Health Status and Cognitive Perception for Their Illness. Study Protocol

Background: Patients who suffer from chronic renal disease face problems in many aspects of their life, problems that are physical, social as well as mental, such as stress, anxiety, depression. Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) exhibit a number of spiritual needs, which relate to and influence the psychological adaptation to the illness. Aim: The aim of the present study is to investigate spirituality and spiritual needs of patients with CKD and the possible relation between spirituality, quality of life, mental health and perceptions of their illness. Moreover, the possible differences in spirituality, mental health, Quality of Life (QoL) and perceptions for the disease among End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients and patients suffering by third and fourth stage CKD will be assessed. Method: 300 patients diagnosed with 3^rd, 4^th stage and ESRD undergoing Hemodialysis (HD) treatment will be recruited to participate in this study. Each subject’s spiritual wellbeing, QoL, mental health status and illness perception will be measured using the following instruments: 1) The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp-12), 2) The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-DASS-21, 3) The Illness Perception Questionnaire, 4) The Quality of Life Index SF-36. Results: Patients’ spiritual well-being is expected to be related to their QoL, mental health and illness perception.