The effects of emotional intelligence training on anxiety in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Hemodialysis is the most efficient treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which increases patients’life expectancy. However, it can cause various adverse physical and mental side effects. The aim of this study was to determine theeffects of emotional intelligence training on anxiety of hemodialysis patients in Khorramabad, Iran.Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 74 patients admitted to the hemodialysis ward of Khorramabad hospitalsduring 2014. The patients were randomized into experimental and control groups. Emotional intelligence training was provided tothe experimental group by trained and skilled researchers during two months, within eight sessions. The data collection tools includeddemographic profile checklist, Spielberger's anxiety questionnaire and emotional quotient inventory (EQ-i), which was filled out bythe researcher's assistant throughout the interviews before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed performing covarianceanalysis, Chi-squared as well as independent and paired t-test, using SPSS 19.Results: Before the intervention, independent t-test indicated no significant differences in the emotional intelligence scores of thetwo groups, but after the intervention, this score increased in the experimental group (P=0.01). The mean state-trait anxiety was notsignificantly different in the two groups before the intervention. Whereas after the intervention, a significant decrease in the anxietyscores of the experimental group was observed (P