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Abstract
Background: Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a public health problem that has serious impact on mental and psychological health of patients undergoing haemodialysis.
Aim: The aim of this quantitative research study was to investigate the psychological impact of dialysis on the quality of life of patients with End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF).
Material-Method: The sample study included 100 patients undergoing haemodialysis in four hospitals in Athens. Data was collected by the completion of a questionnaire KDQOL-SF, incorporating the tool overview of the SF-36 Health and an additional questionnaire that included demographic characteristics. Literature review was based on studies, reviews and articles derived from international (Medline, PubMed, Cinahl, Scopus) and Greek (Iatrotek) data bases concerning psychological problems of people with renal failure.
Results: The average number of participants was between 50 to 59 years old, with a rate of 69% being male and 31% women. Psychological disorders appeared to affect the population of patients at a large extent, with a sample rate feeling lack of rest (43.8 %), lack of joy (41.1 %), feeling tired (41.8 %) and irritability (37.5 %). The main stressor for these patients was the disease itself (41.7 %), dietary restrictions (25 %), restriction of fluid intake (32.7 %), decreased ability to travel (29.5 %), anxiety and sleep disorders (68.1 %). The sexual life (59.8%) and appearance (57.7 %) did not concern all participants. Decreased physical function was shown by spending less time for activities (53.8 %), difficulty in performing work (51.6 %) and making fewer activities than they would like (62.8 %).
Conclusions: Specific variables, such as age, gender, frequency and duration of dialysis, education, physical functioning, mental health and effects of the disease can affect either positively or negatively the quality of patients' life.
Keywords: Haemodialysis, concerns, chronic renal failure, quality of life, psychosocial disorders, psychological factors.
Introduction
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is an irreversible and progressive kidney failure,1 where haemodialysis has been proved to be the most effective treatment modality, as it results in long survival rates and maintains patients' life at a satisfactory level. 2
However, this treatment has a number of restrictions and modifications, which have a detrimental impact on the quality of patient's life. More specifically, haemodialysis affects the professional and psychological well-...