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 3rd, 4th 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.