Background: Depression is the most common psychiatric pathology among patients on hemodialysis. The psychosocial characteristics of patients on hemodialysis have not been explored as possible contributory factors to the occurrence of depression. Assessment of family function and utilization of family resources to meet crisis could possibly be correlated with the said psychiatric condition. Objective: This study aimed to assess depression and identification of risk factors including the family functions and utilization of resources would most likely contribute to the management of depression. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study assessing depression among patients undergoing hemodialysis enrolled at Southern Philippines Medical Center –Mindanao Dialysis Center. Various instruments were used for data collection including Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Family APGAR, and Family SCREEM-RES. Results: Among 135 respondents, 53.33% have no depression, 37.78% mild depression and 8.89% moderate depression. Mean Family APGAR score of patients without depression (9.18 ± 1.43) was significantly higher than those patients with depression (7.83 ± 2.37, p=0.0042). Family resources were adequate for the majority of respondents who have no depression (84.55%). Furthermore, the mean SCREEM-RES score was also significantly higher (14.29 ± 1.97) compared to patients with depression (13.08 ± 2.11, p=0.0460). Multivariate regression analysis showed that those who are in indigenous group, without a caregiver, haemoglobin level < 135g/L, dysfunctional family and inadequate family resources had a higher risk of having a depression. Of these factors, persons belonging to an indigenous group and and those dysfunctional family were found to have 7.9 (95% CI = 1.4186 – 44.3460, p = 0.0184) and 5 (95% CI = 1.0065 – 25.1343, p= 0.0491) times higher risk of depression, respectively Conclusion Factors significantly associated with depression among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Southern Philippines Medical Center were those who belong to indigenous group and dysfunctional family
Renal Dialysis ; Depression