Perceived predictors of quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis.
Pretty N Mbeje, Ntombifikile Mtshali
PMID 34636621WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis linked quality of life to family support, finances, changed social roles, physical health, comorbidities, sleep, travel distance and scarce renal services.
These are perceived themes, not effects proven by treatment.
Key findings
01Four perceived determinant categories emerged: social factors, personal factors, geographical location and health systems.
02Participants described caregiver support, finances and changed social roles as social factors perceived to influence quality of life.
03Health-system themes included scarce dialysis machines and government transport arrangements for remote patients.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This was a qualitative study of 18 patients, so it describes perceptions rather than testing whether any factor causes quality of life or whether any treatment improves it. Participants were in-patients admitted to renal wards at public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, and patients in private hospitals or other settings were not included. The researcher was an experienced nephrology nurse, which may shape interpretation, although a co-coder and supervisor checked the coding. The study used purposive and theoretical sampling to reach saturation, not a random sample, so the themes cannot be generalised to all patients on dialysis.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that family support, education or transport changes quality of life. The study asked 18 patients what they perceived as affecting quality of life; it did not test any intervention or measure outcomes.