Preparation for self-care of a patent with kidney failure

Abstract

Background: In recent years there has been noticed a high increase in amount of patients with kidney failure who had haemodialysis. The most common cause is increase in becoming ill with arterial hypertension and diabetes. Haemodialysis treatment stops the progress of the condition and at the same time it lets extend the lifespan of patients. There are two forms: dialysis therapy and kidney transplantation. In Poland, the most commonly used method of dialysis therapy is haemodialysis, also less popular peritoneal dialysis. Objectives: The aim of the work is evaluation of the level of preparation for self-care of a patient with kidney failure in stage of dialysis therapy. Material: The research was conducted in Dialysis Station Diaverum Poland Sp. z o.o. on a group of fifty patients who underwent haemodialysis. Methods: The method of my research was diagnostic survey and the research tool was a questionnaire consisting of twenty six questions. The questions in the questionnaire were mostly open-ended so that people could express their own opinions but closed- ended ones were also included. They were divided into five categories describing customers’ physical and psychological condition, knowledge of self-care and implementing and complying to diet, control and exercises of pulse-vein fistula, patients’ attitude to health education and general information on treating with haemodialysis. Results: On the basis of the collected material I can conclude that patients can cope with weakness occurring after renal dialysis. They can also control the work of pulse-vein fistula themselves and exercise observing the given methods. In case of emergency, they are able to eliminate factors endangering the fistula to stop working and complying to diet instructions is not an issue to them. This shows proper training and educating patients in the field of self-care and self-control