The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between self-care behaviors in renal dialysis patients and to provide the basic data for management of self-care behaviors.

This study was conducted from December 1, 2015 to January 30, 2016 in 120 patients with chronic renal failure receiving dialysis treatment for 6 months or longer at a medical institution in B city. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0 program.

The self-care behaviors of the renal dialysis patients showed a statistically significant positive correlation with autonomous motivation (r=.33, p<.001), health provider’s support (r=.34, p<.001), and family support (r=.40, p<.001), a negative correlation with depression (r=-.31, p=.001). A stepwise regression analysis was performed to examine the factors affecting self-care behaviors in renal dialysis patients. Family support, depression and autonomous motivation were significant predictors of self-care behaviors in renal dialysis patients, and these variables accounted for 23.5% of self-care behaviors.

This study was to find out the relationship between self-care behaviors related variables in renal dialysis patients and to provide basic data for management, maintenance, and promotion of self-care behaviors. Family support, depression and autonomous motivation of renal dialysis patients were most important variables related to self-care behaviors. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a plan that can intervene in depression in renal dialysis patients early and effectively to improve family support and subject’s autonomous motivation.