Understanding the impact of haemodialysis on UK National Health Service patients' well-being: A qualitative investigation.
Daniel Jw Jones, Kate Harvey, John P Harris and 2 others
PMID 28498615WHAT IT FOUND
Some haemodialysis patients felt mentally and physically drained after treatment, some only physically tired, and some unaffected.
They described lost freedom, holiday restrictions and transport delays, and strain on family.
Key findings
01Some patients were mentally and physically fatigued after dialysis, wanting to sleep and unable to do simple daily activities.
02Other patients were only physically fatigued after dialysis, and some reported no effect on cognitive or physical functioning.
03Patients described holiday restrictions and worry about the strain on family members.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 20 patients from two NHS dialysis units, so the themes may not apply to other settings, other dialysis types or a wider patient population. The sample was predominantly white and over 70 years of age, so experiences of younger patients or other groups may not have been captured. One interview was terminated early because the patient felt unwell. Interviews took place at the bedside during dialysis, which may have influenced what patients said or made them feel observed. The study describes patients' accounts; it does not test whether dialysis caused these effects, and the authors say further research is needed to determine whether the three post-dialysis groups are generalisable.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that haemodialysis causes memory problems in all patients. Most attributed memory loss to age or medication, and three groups differed: some had mental and physical fatigue, some only physical fatigue, and some no effect.