Social Isolation and Loneliness in People Living With Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure: A Mixed Method Systematic Review.
Amanda L McKie, Paul J Buttel
PMID 41653041WHAT IT FOUND
Adults in the included studies said dialysis schedules, infection fears, and changed routines narrowed social life.
Loneliness and depression were described, though two studies found low loneliness or no link to depression.
Key findings
01HD and PD treatment schedules were reported to dominate daily life and make social planning difficult, leading people to report loneliness.
02Family support, including phone conversations, transport, and help with household shopping, was described as invaluable.
03Quantitative findings were mixed: a study found no significant relationship between loneliness and depression, and another found no statistical relationship between loneliness and social isolation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only seven studies were included, with sample sizes ranging from 11 to 1009 people. Only English-language studies were included, so cultural viewpoints may be missing. Only studies within the last 20 years were included, which may explain the small number. Two included studies also had caregivers, so patient-specific findings may be mixed with caregiver experiences. Qualitative studies describe experiences and cannot show that an intervention works. The quantitative studies gave mixed or null findings, so loneliness and depression were not consistently linked.
Declared interests
The authors received no specific funding and declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that any intervention reduces loneliness. The review reports experiences, and quantitative findings were mixed, including no significant relationship between loneliness and depression.