EXPLORATION OF UREMIC PRURITUS.
Contributors: University of Utah.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 129
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The incidence of uremic pruritus in patients with chronic renal failure has been reported to be as high as 86%. Often an incapacitating problem, the itch of uremic pruritus may, among other things, cause psychiatric and personality problems, sleep disturbances, and difficulty with concentration. A universally safe and effective remedy has yet to be determined. Despite this, the phenomenon of uremic pruritus has not been adequately described in the nursing literature.

The purpose of this descriptive study was to obtain a comprehensive description of the itch phenomenon from the patient's perspective. A qualitative approach was utilized. A convenience sample of subjects with chronic renal failure who received hemodialysis treatments at one treatment center was utilized. The sample was composed of two groups: 34 in the itch group and 8 nonitch subjects.

Personal interviews were conducted with all subjects. In addition, specific physiologic parameters (serum chemistries) were monitored on all subjects. Subjects experiencing itch also completed Itch Diaries.

Content analysis was utilized to identify themes related to characteristics of itch that emerged from interview and Itch Diary data. Quantitative analyses were used to describe the occurrence of certain responses, the relationship between certain variables, and differences between groups of subjects on certain variables. From these analyses, a wealth of information regarding the experience of uremic pruritus from the patient's perspective emerged. Furthermore, a contribution was made to the research data base aimed at identifying an etiology for uremic pruritus.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-10, Section: B, page: 4230.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, 1988.

School code: 0240.