Ganhos em saúde com a intervenção "humor" em pessoas com doença renal crónica

Abstract

Introduction: The research on humor says that it contributes towards the health and well-being of people. Humor plays an important role in human interactions, it promotes communication and balance in relationships. Despite the fact that there has been a great investment in the study of humor over the years, its nature, factors that influence it, its purposes and benefits, its definition has not been consensual. In the context of clinical practice this intervention is taken into account as an intervention in the international classification for nursing practice and in the nursing interventions classification. Studies have shown evidence of the benefits of humor on people's health. Objectives: To evaluate the quality of life, subjective well-being, psychological health, pain interference, and sense of humor in people with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis and to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention humor (viewing humor movies) in psychological health, subjective well-being, pain interference, and quality of life in people with chronic kidney disease during dialysis sessions. Materials and Methods: A first study, exploratory, correlational and transversal study, where the levels of sense of humor, subjective well-being, quality of life, pain interference, stress / anxiety, and depression were characterized in a random sample of 171 people with chronic kidney disease. The second study has a quasi-experimental design of the before and after type, performed on two randomly selected samples in two groups of people with chronic kidney disease. The intervention group had 34 people who participated in the viewing of a humorous movie/comedy during four weeks and the control group had 33 people who watched television programs. Results: In the exploratory study differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables were verified. The increased sense of humor is positively associated with high levels of the mental component of quality of life, subjective well-being and negatively with stress / anxiety and depression. In the quasi-experimental study when comparing the groups, it was found that the intervention group showed significantly higher levels in the physical component of quality of life, happiness and in the dimensions: subjective sense of humor, however, exhibited lower levels of depression. Conclusions: The sense of humor differs in regard to sex, nationality, presence of hypertension and dialysis time. It is related to quality of life, well-being subjective and psychological health. The quasi-experimental study provided evidence of the viewing of humorous movies/comedies in improving the sense of humor, subjective well-being, quality of life and in reducing depressive symptoms in people with chronic kidney disease during dialysis sessions. This activity is affordable and safe, but requires the presence of nurses to ensure continuity and commitment of the people. We recommend studies with an experimental design with greater samples in order to verify the effect of this intervention on psychological variables and health and wellness.

Date of Award	18 May 2018
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Helena Maria Guerreiro José (Supervisor)