The Level of Social Stability among Kidney Failure Patients from the Perspective of Healthcare Workers in the Sultanate of Oman: A Study Conducted at Nizwa Hospital

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the level of social stability among patients with kidney failure from the perspective of healthcare workers in the Sultanate of Oman. To achieve the study objectives, a descriptive research design was employed, and a questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. The questionnaire consisted of 20 items distributed across four domains: family support, social relationships, community participation, and adaptation to health and social services.

The study was conducted with a purposively selected sample of 74 healthcare workers employed in the Dialysis Unit and its affiliated outpatient clinics at Nizwa Hospital. The findings revealed a moderate level of social stability. They also indicated no statistically significant differences attributable to gender across the domains or in the overall score, except in the family support domain, where the differences favored male healthcare workers. Furthermore, statistically significant differences attributable to years of work experience were found across all domains and in the overall score, except for the community participation domain.

Based on these findings, the researcher recommended developing a comprehensive social support program for patients with kidney failure, involving relevant community institutions. The proposed program should incorporate periodic assessments of patients’ needs, promote their community participation, and strengthen the roles of families, healthcare teams, and social institutions in helping patients adapt to the demands of the illness and its treatment.