Abstract: Objective To understand the experiential avoidance in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and to explore its influencing factors so as to provide  theoretical basis for follow-up study.  Methods  A total of 200 MHD patients treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from October 2021 to January 2022 were selected by means of the convenience sampling method. They were assessed by Acceptance Action Questionnaire, Patient Activation Measure 13, Benefit Finding Scale, and General Data Questionnaire. SPSS 26.0 software was used to process the data.  Results  The overall score of experiential avoidance was 23.74±6.356 in the patients (P＜0.050). The overall score of experiential avoidance was negatively correlated with the overall score of activation and the scores of its dimensions (cognition dimension: r=-0.263, P＜0.001; skill dimension: r=-0.464, P＜0.001; action dimension: r=-0.326, P=0.001; faith dimension: r=-0.271, P＜0.001; overall score of activation: r=-0.515, P＜0.001), and the overall score of benefit finding and the scores of its dimensions (acceptance dimension: r=-0.492, P<0.001; family relationship dimension: r= -0.344, P=0.002; world outlook dimension: r=-0.319, P＜0.001; personal growth dimension: r=-0.336, P＜0.001; social relation dimension: r=-0.374, P＜0.001; health dimension: r=-0.348, P＜0.001; overall score of benefit finding: r=-0.544, P<0.001). Multivariate linear regression showed that educational level (β=-0.162, P=0.001), average monthly income per family member (β=-0.124, P＝0.011), hemodialysis year (β=-0.299, P<0.001), hobbies (β=-0.192, P＜0.001), patient activation (β=-0.230, P＜0.001) and benefit finding (β=         -0.311, P＜0.001) were the influencing factors for experiential avoidance.  Conclusion  The status of experiential avoidance in MHD patients was found in a medium level. We should take appropriate measures based on the influencing factors to reduce the level of experiential avoidance and to promote physical and mental health of MHD patients.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Experiential avoidance, Patient activation, Influence factor