Individuals' perceptions of end stage renal disease and hemodialysis and its association with adjustment and health-related quality of life: a longitudinal study

• Main Author: Wells, Judith J. L.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2004
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/9922/; https://research.library.mun.ca/9922/1/Wells_JudithJL.pdf

A descriptive, correlational study with a repeated measures design was used to monitor changes in individual's perceptions of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and hemodialysis at study entry and at approximately seven months follow-up. A secondary purpose was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of hemodialysis patients at the follow-up period. Interrelationships among illness and treatment experiences, social supports, adjustment to a new normal, critical events, demographic variables, and medical risk factors were also examined. The Living with End Stage Renal Disease and Hemodialysis (LESRD - H) model was used as the framework for the study. -- The non-probability, convenience sample consisted of 60 individuals who were undergoing in-center chronic hemodialysis in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The majority of participants were male (51.7%), living with a spouse (60%), and over fifty years of age (68.3%). The mean time on hemodialysis at follow-up was 23.2 months. Most participants had one or more co-morbid illness (61.7%). -- Study findings indicated that most participants were generally positive about the illness and treatment experiences, social supports, and adjustment to a new normal at both time periods. Participants were most positive about their social supports and least positive about the illness and treatment experiences at both baseline and follow-up. With the exception of a significant decrease in satisfaction with support from family and involvement in self-health management, no significant differences were noted in aspects of the illness and treatment experience (i.e., frequency of physiological stressors, performance of activities of daily living [ADL], or confidence with knowledge), social supports (i.e., satisfaction with nurses, physicians, and allied health professional), or adjustment (i.e., emotional well-being and psychosocial distress) between the two time periods. -- Study findings related to HRQOL indicated that most participants experienced substantial ...