Body Image Perception of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and Its Impact on Their Personal Relationships

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to find the correlation between the interpersonal relationships of patients who had dialysis, kidney transplantation, and early-stage chronic renal failure (CRF) and the body image perception dependent on the therapy. Materials and Methods: One-hundred twenty patients from each group were included in the study. The patients were assessed using patient information form, short symptom inventory, and social physique anxiety scale, and their answers were evaluated. Results: As a result of the research, 51.7% of the patients had a change in body appearance after the illness and there was a significant relationship (gamma(2)=21, p=0.002) between the patient group and the body appearance and discomfort, and as the inconvenience of the appearance of the body increased, the increase in social physique anxiety and body image perception (r=-0.334, p<0.05) were found to be weakened. Conclusion: According to these results, it is proposed that informative education about the probable body image changes must be given to the patients before the therapy, and supportive psychotherapies for the deformation of the relationship between the patients and their surroundings have to be planned.