Meaning of empowerment in peritoneal dialysis: focus groups with patients and caregivers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While peritoneal dialysis (PD) can offer patients more independence and flexibility compared with in-center hemodialysis, managing the ongoing and technically demanding regimen can impose a burden on patients and caregivers. Patient empowerment can strengthen capacity for self-management and improve treatment outcomes. We aimed to describe patients' and caregivers' perspectives on the meaning and role of patient empowerment in PD.

Methods

Adult patients receiving PD (n = 81) and their caregivers (n = 45), purposively sampled from nine dialysis units in Australia, Hong Kong and the USA, participated in 14 focus groups. Transcripts were thematically analyzed.

Results

We identified six themes: lacking clarity for self-management (limited understanding of ratio

SUBMITTER: Baumgart A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7824999 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature