Assessment of Nursing Problems in Patients With Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
The aim was to assess the nursing problems of patients with haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Material and Methods. The study was performed at three Vilnius hospitals with dialysis health care service for outpatients. Private dialysis centres were excluded. The data was collected in July through November, 2014. One-hundred forty-one patients met inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study (response rate, 100.0%). The questionnaire was made by the authors of this study. Patients were asked to report on their health problems that appeared during the last 4 weeks. The study protocol was approved by the Centre of Bioethics at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.
Results. The most frequent nursing problems among haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients were high blood pressure (73.3%), weakness (66.7%), hand and leg cramps (65.9%), sleep problems (62.4%) and dry skin (57.4%). Nursing problems such as high blood pressure (74.1% in haemodialysis patients and 69.7% in peritoneal dialysis patients, respectively), weakness (71.3% and 51.5%, respectively) and sleep problems (69.4% and 39.4%, respectively) were more prevalent among haemodialysis patients than peritoneal dialysis patients. Besides, hand and leg cramps were more relevant for peritoneal dialysis patients in comparison with haemodialysis patients (81.8% and 61.1%, respectively). Some health problems were relevant for patients after dialysis treatment that lasted for 10 years and longer: 90.9% of patients had weakness, 81.8% had high blood pressure and dry skin, and 63.6% had headache and muscles pain.
Conclusions. Assessment of nursing problems assures individual care of patients with haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Patient-centred care is provided if nursing professionals ground care planning on identified patients’ health problems and care needs.
Correspondence to L. Spirgienė Correspondence to L. Spirgienė, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 4, LT‑50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: lina.spirgiene@lsmu.lt