Abstract

Hemodialysis patients require spiritual care due to their spiritual distress. This study aimed to investigate the effect of spiritual care on spiritual experiences of hemodialysis patients. This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2017 at hemodialysis departments of Baqiyatallah and Cham ran hospitals in Tehran. The volunteer patients were selected by available sampling according to the inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Interventions were performed in the educational-supportive nursing system according to the patients' self-care ability. Eight individual counseling sessions, 15-45 min, face-to-face, during dialysis, once a week were implemented for intervention group. Developing the relationship with God, self, people and nature were the main goals of care. Daily spiritual experience questionnaire was completed by patients before and three months after the intervention. There was no significant difference in the spiritual experience score of the intervention (75.20 +/- 9.14) and control group (76.63 +/- 10.03), before the intervention (P = 0.523). There was a statistically significant difference between the intervention (82.93 +/- 5.69) and the control group score (77.24 +/- 12.09) three months after the intervention (P < 0.0001). Due to the need for holistic and community-oriented care and the positive effect of this study, the use of the Sound Heart Model is recommended for Muslim patients.