EXPERIENCE OF LIVING ON MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS FOR TWENTY YEARS AND BEYOND: IMPACT ON THE PATIENT AND FAMILY.
Contributors: Union Institute (U.S.)
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 183
Subjects: Psychology, Clinical.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: Qualitative research methods were used to collect data from five families through open-ended interviews and observations by the researcher as well as the subjective views of the patients, spouses, caregivers, and children. Data collection also involved the use of diaries and pictures. All interviews were tape-recorded. Six categories provide the basis for results and discussion: (a) kinship and friendship networks, (b) the marital relationship, (c) the children, (d) support systems, (e) medical considerations, and (f) psychosocial considerations. Results are described from the perspective of the following, three, distinct phases: (1) Initial or crisis phase--six months to one year. (2) The chronic living phase--two years to fifteen years. (3) The downward health spiral--fifteen years to twenty-five years. Findings involving psychological and support components provided to patients and family members, risk factors for children of parents on hemodialysis, benefits of diligent medical care, and the effects of the downward health spiral are discussed. Implications for new plans of intervention during the course of illness of the end stage renal disease patient and family are considered.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-09, Section: B, page: 5163.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNION INSTITUTE, 1995.

School code: 1033.