Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To explore the mediating effect of spiritual needs on social support and medical treatment adherence, and to provide references for improving quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Method A total of 171 MHD patients were selected by convenience method. They were investigated using the Medical Treatment Adherence Scale, the Spiritual Needs Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale. Result The total scores of medical treatment adherence, social support and spiritual needs were 89.51±13.32, 38.36±8.00 and 91.78±14.60 respectively in the MHD patients. The total score of medical treatment adherence was positively corelated with the total score of social support (r=0.204, P=0.005), and the total score of spiritual needs (r=0.184, P=0.018); the total score of social support was positively correlated with the total score of spiritual needs (r=0.207, P=0.008). Spiritual needs played a part of mediating effect between medical treatment adherence and social support, with the mediating effect of 0.203. Conclusion Sufficient spiritual needs carried to MHD patients will enhance their social support and improve their medical treatment adherence.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Spiritual needs, Social support, Medical treatment adherence, Mediating effect