The aim of this study was to describe the coping experience of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The objectives were to understand the coping strategies of patients with ESRD on dialysis treatments, and the difficulties or challenges faced by patients with ESRD.
A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. Semi-structured face-to-face interview was used to collect data. A purposive sample of 25 participants was recruited from the renal setting of a tertiary hospital in Singapore. The target participants consisted of patients who have been clinically diagnosed with ESRD and receiving either haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Participants’ socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected and analyzed.
Four themes emerged through the data. (1) Financial burden: Patients found it challenging to cope with the finances incurred from dialysis, transportation to the dialysis centre and medications. (2) Feelings of restrictions: The dialysis regimebrought about multiple restrictions in areas such as work, social and physical activities to patients, negatively affecting their quality of life. (3) Adherence to fluid restrictions: Adherence was challenging to many, partly because of Singapore’s tropical climate and a lack of social support and coping skills (4) Experience of physiologic changes: Fatigue, insomnia and pain were chronic symptoms experienced by some, while others felt an improvement of such physical symptom burden with dialysis.
The derived themes showed that the experience of dialysis affect the patient’s quality of life in various dimensions that cannot be described from a physical perspective alone. Such themes therefore hint the need for a more structured support system, not necessarily financial, but also on a personal and advisory level. Based on the results, recommendations were made for the establishment of community support groups and psychosocial support.