Hemodialysis as long term treatment: Patients satisfaction and its impact on quality of life

Objective: To determine the level of satisfaction as hemodialysis a long term treatment and quality of life in patients off End Stage Kidney Disease ESKD on hemodialysis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January to April 2019 in hemodialysis unit of Lahore General Hospital on 141 ESKD patients by using self-designed questionnaire after informed consent.

Results: Majority (82.56%) of the participants were satisfied with the care provided at the dialysis center. except with the time spent with doctor and 36.9% were not satisfied with their cannulation technique for dialysis. About 89.9% were satisfied with the knowledge provided to them about self-care. Satisfaction is subjective well-being in different aspects of life, including mental health and behavior of people experiencing serious health concerns. Quality of Life (QOL) is defined as “perception of one’s position in life, in the light of his culture and customs, consisting someone’s goals, standards or expectations. Financial problems to the patient was limited to the transportation as dialysis session and erythropoietin were free, but 54.1% of the patients were unable to earn due to their disease even those who were working ,80% of them had to take the day off for dialysis. The financial burden and debilitating illness didn’t cause separation/divorce from spouse but led to increased frequency of scuffles. Among the unmarried population, 40% of it does not want to start a relationship and 40% is facing difficulties in finding a partners while 97.9% of the population is satisfied with the psychological and emotional support of family.

Conclusion: Most patients were satisfied with their decision of opting hemodialysis as treatment and care provided at dialysis centre, although Quality of Life was badly affected in terms of financial and psycho-social aspects. Employed, married with good income have good quality of life. Loopholes of unit environment and health education were also exposed. Despite the medical advancement and emerging techniques to make dialysis better, the outcome of hemodialysis has yet to reach a safe level and more work should be done to improve patient’s outcome.