Description:
Relevance of work. Chronic kidney diseases are more and more often acknowledged as a public
health problem in Lithuania. Hemodialysis saves lives to patients with severe chronic kidney
diseases, however, this method affects both physical and mental patients‘ health heavily,
specifically it is common at the beginning of treatment with hemodialysis when life rhythm,
capacity for work as well as normal nutrition are disturbed, it is common for patients to be
affected by bad mood, worrying and depression. Despite great achievements in the area of
medicine and in diagnostics, alternative kidney therapy contributed to patients’ survival rate,
however, patients having hemodialysis are attributed to people who need special care, and high
standards are raised to treatment, nursing and care.
The aim of the work: to assess problems of physiological and psychosocial factors among
hemodialysis patients.
Objectives of the work:
1. To overlook conception of alternative kidney therapy.
2. To distinguish aspects of nurse‘s professional activity.
3. To disclose physiological problems of patients having hemodialysis.
4. To determine problems of psychosocial factors among hemodialysis patients.
Results of the research: principal methods of alternative kidney therapy are hemodialysis,
peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation. The most significant professional aspects for
nurses when caring for patients having hemodialysis are to understand the main principles of
HD, to perform procedure in a professional way, to control complications arising to vital
functions, to observe changes in patients’ moods – occurrences of suspicion, worrying and fear.
The principal aspect of nursing is to help a patient to maintain and regain independence, selfsufficiency,
also, to cooperate with specialists of different health areas.
Conclusions of the research: received results of the research revealed that problems named by
the majority of the respondents and related to patient‘s health are: insomnia, fatigue, general
weakness, changes in ABP, accompanying diseases, correction of amount of liquids and nutrition
regimen. Problems mostly disturbing in social environment: precise agenda, limited free time
with a family, problem of going on holidays, decreased possibilities to work and worsened
financial state. A third of patients are in need of physiotherapist‘s, dietologist‘s, psychologist‘s
and social worker‘s help. Problems concerning transport, arrival to the centre of hemodialysis as
well as family and friends support press these patients least. Results of the research have also
disclosed that patients who failed to follow doctor‘s recommendations thoroughly, i.e.
limitations of liquids and diets, a third of these patients had bad quality of sleep, felt bigger
fatigue, did not trust in their physical capacities, had bad mood and often felt fear, distrust and
mood changes