Abstract
Background
Many patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have significant psychosocial needs as a consequence of their illness and treatment. Unmet needs can impact negatively on their health and well-being. Patients want improved psychosocial support particularly in relation to coping and adjustment. Little is known about the relevance and applicability to patients of intervention approaches to support their psychosocial needs.
Objectives
To explore patients’ attitudes to different intervention approaches that could be developed to help them cope with the psychosocial stressors of ESKD, and to assess the potential acceptability of these approaches.
Methods and Materials
Qualitative interviews and mini-focus groups were undertaken with 15 patients who have ESKD. Different intervention approaches were shown to participants through use of audio-visual films. Constant comparative data analysis was employed to derive a framework of categories and themes, guided by stress and coping theory.
Results
Psychosocial support was viewed by patients as an essential constituent of quality care. While some intervention approaches were more or less popular than others, responses were overall variable and individualistic, seemingly influenced by participants’ personal coping strategies. Any perceived connection with depression could make an intervention approach less attractive; physical exercise was particularly acceptable because there was no explicit association with someone not coping.
Conclusions
There is value in clinicians making available a choice of appropriately timed and tailored interventions to meet patients’ different psychosocial support needs at key points of distress across the ESKD pathway. Congruence between intervention features and patient coping style could stimulate interest and take-up.
Many patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have significant psychosocial needs as a consequence of their illness and treatment. Unmet needs can impact negatively on their health and well-being. Patients want improved psychosocial support particularly in relation to coping and adjustment. Little is known about the relevance and applicability to patients of intervention approaches to support their psychosocial needs.
Objectives
To explore patients’ attitudes to different intervention approaches that could be developed to help them cope with the psychosocial stressors of ESKD, and to assess the potential acceptability of these approaches.
Methods and Materials
Qualitative interviews and mini-focus groups were undertaken with 15 patients who have ESKD. Different intervention approaches were shown to participants through use of audio-visual films. Constant comparative data analysis was employed to derive a framework of categories and themes, guided by stress and coping theory.
Results
Psychosocial support was viewed by patients as an essential constituent of quality care. While some intervention approaches were more or less popular than others, responses were overall variable and individualistic, seemingly influenced by participants’ personal coping strategies. Any perceived connection with depression could make an intervention approach less attractive; physical exercise was particularly acceptable because there was no explicit association with someone not coping.
Conclusions
There is value in clinicians making available a choice of appropriately timed and tailored interventions to meet patients’ different psychosocial support needs at key points of distress across the ESKD pathway. Congruence between intervention features and patient coping style could stimulate interest and take-up.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 212-222 |
| Journal | Journal of renal care |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 18 Oct 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2016 |
Keywords
- Coping
- Distress
- End‐stage kidney disease
- Psychosocial