The relationship between illness perception and general self-efficacy in hemodialysis patients: A cross-sectional study in south-western Iran

Introduction: Illness perception may influence self-efficacy in chronic disease management. This study examined the relationship between illness perception and general self-efficacy in hemodialysis patients in Ahvaz, Iran." Materials and methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study included 266 hemodialysis patients who were selected using stratified sampling with proportional allocation from the hemodialysis units affiliated to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in 2023. Data were collected through interviews and medical records using the demographic information form, General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: The mean age of the participants was 57.16 ± 12.38 years, and 57.1% of them were male. A direct and significant Correlation was observed between the total score of self-efficacy and illness perception (r = 0.56, P < 0.001). Also, there was a direct and significant Correlation between illness perception and the subscales of self-efficacy including independence (r = 0.201, P = 0.001), organization (r = 0.235, P < 0.001), and problem-solving (r = 0.126, P = 0.039), but no significant Correlation was observed between illness perception and social support (r=-0.041, P = 0.507). Self-efficacy had an inverse and significant relationship with age (r=-0.501, P < 0.001), while it had a direct and significant Correlation with dialysis history (r = 0.182, P = 0.003). Conclusion: The study revealed a significant positive relationship between illness perception and general self-efficacy in hemodialysis patients, particularly in the domains of independence, organization, and problem-solving. These findings underscore the need for targeted nursing interventions—such as patient education and empowerment programs—to enhance illness perception, thereby promoting self-efficacy and adaptive disease management.