Abstract: Objective  To investigate the current situation of social avoidance and distress in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and to analyze its influencing factors.  Method  A total of 246 MHD patients treated in the Blood Purification Center of Eastern Theater Command General Hospital from September 2023 to December 2023 were selected as the investigation subjects. General information questionnaire, social avoidance and distress scale, social impact scale and perceived social support rating scale were used to the investigation.  Results  The score of social avoidance and distress in the MHD patients was 12.02±6.70, which was in the middle level. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses showed that gender (β=0.278, P<0.001), per capita monthly family income (β=-0.168, P<0.001), self-care ability (β=-0.133, P=0.005), number of complications (β=0.161, P=0.001), total score of stigma (β=0.344, P<0.001) and total score of perceived social support (β=-0.257, P<0.001) were the main influencing factors for social avoidance and distress.  Conclusion  The social avoidance and distress in MHD patients are at a moderate level. Medical staff should provide targeted interventions for patients according to the relevant influencing factors, so as to reduce their social avoidance and distress level and help patients better return to society.

Key words: Maintenance hemodialysis, Social avoidance and distress, Stigma, Perceived social support