Experiences of Living with Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis – A Qualitative Study

• Published in: Peritoneal dialysis international Vol. 37; no. 6; pp. 605 - 612
• Main Authors: Petersson, Ingrid, Lennerling, Annette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-11-2017
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Assisted PD; empowerment; end; end-stage renal disease; Female; french; health-care; heart-failure; hemodialysis; home; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - psychology; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; lived experience; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; of-life; Omvårdnad; Peritoneal Dialysis - psychology; person-centered; Qualitative Research; Quality of Life; satisfaction; stage renal-disease; symptom burden; Terminally Ill - psychology; Urologi och njurmedicin; Urology and Nephrology; empowerment; phenomenological-hermeneutic; lived experience; Assisted PD; nursing; person-centered care; end-stage renal disease; quality of life
• ISSN: 0896-8608; 1718-4304
• DOI: 10.3747/pdi.2017.00045

Background
People's experiences of living with assisted peritoneal dialysis (aPD) have not been studied previously. Assisted PD is successfully used as renal replacement therapy for elderly and disabled patients with end-stage renal disease. To be treated with aPD implies being dependent on lifelong treatment at home. The aim of this study was to explore adults’ experiences of living with aPD.
Methods
In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 participants with aPD, median age 82.5 years. The text was analyzed using a phenomenological-hermeneutical method.
Results
The participants experienced limitations and an uncertain future, but through different strategies and participation in healthcare, they could still enjoy what was important in life for them. The analysis of the text resulted in 4 main themes; 1) Facing new demands, 2) Managing daily life, 3) Partnership in care, and 4) Experiencing a meaningful life, leading to the comprehensive understanding: ‘Striving for maintaining wellbeing’.
Conclusion
The participants expressed that they experienced a good quality of life despite being physically frail, severely ill, and in need of home-based lifesaving treatment. The findings suggest that aPD should be available everywhere where PD is offered. Integrating the model of person-centered care may greatly improve the care for persons living with aPD.