Introduction:

The origin or exacerbation of suffering may have spiritual determinants; however, research on this topic is limited among patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.

Objective:

To determine if there is a relationship between the presence of suffering and spiritual needs in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Material and Method:

This was a descriptive cross-sectional observational study that included correlation tasks in a sample of 47 adult patients undergoing hemodialysis at Salvador Allende Hospital in Havana. The instruments used were the interview, the Bayés Suffering Detection Instrument, and the Spiritual Connection Questionnaire by Wheeler and Hyland.

Results:

A significant association was found between distress and male gender (p=0.04), having children (p=0.01), the need to “be recognized as a person” (p=0.01), and the need to “re-read one’s life” (p=0.01). Well-being was associated with preparedness for hemodialysis (p=0.01) and the need to “love and be loved” (p=0.00). A moderate overall level of spiritual connection was also found to be associated with the needs to “re-read one’s life” (p=0.03) and “continuity, beyond this life” (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

Suffering was associated with gender, having children, and specific spiritual needs. The most reported spiritual needs were “love and be loved,” “re-read one’s life,” and “express religious feelings and experiences.”