Development of Recommendations for Nurses to Prepare Patients and Their Families for Dialysis

Background. Annually more than 2.5 million people with chronic renal failure around the world receive renal replacement therapy—dialysis. The most common causes that lead to dialysis are diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Against the background of chronic diseases, it is important to conduct timely examination of the kidneys and, if necessary, gradual preparation of patients for the start of renal replacement therapy. Objective: improve the quality of nursing by creating recommendations for preparation of patients with end-stage of chronic renal failure and their family members at the beginning of dialysis to reduce the risk of complications and improve quality of life. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted from May to November 2018. A total 22 participants (seven dialysis patients, five patients’ relatives, five nurses, and five nephrologists) were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Data analysis led to the production of four main categories, which were selected for each group of respondents separately. 1—Pre-dialysis training helps to reduce possible complications of dialysis issues. 2—Effectiveness of regular counseling of patients and their families at the pre-dialysis stage. 3—The need for psychological help and counseling for patients and their relatives before and at the beginning of dialysis. 4—For further qualitative development of the dialysis service, it is necessary to actively conduct predialysis training jointly with patients with chronic renal failure and with relatives. Conclusion: Six common recommendations were developed for counseling: 1—changes in lifestyle, 2—social help, 3—medical interventions, 4—informing patients and their families, 5—psychological preparation, and 6—social life. Developed recommendations for nurses to prepare patients and their families for dialysis were aimed at reducing the risk of developing complications and improving the quality of life of dialysis patients