Criteria for Good Adjustment to Chronic Hemodialysis: Nurse-Patient Differences

• Published in: Rehabilitation psychology 1984-01, Vol.29 (3), p.147-158
• Main Authors: Huber, James W, Tucker, Carolyn M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Client Attitudes; Health Personnel Attitudes; Hemodialysis; Human; Medical Patients; Nurses
• ISSN: 0090-5550; 1939-1544
• DOI: 10.1037/h0090987

The present study examined nurse-patient agreement on behaviors and attitudes associated with patient adjustment to chronic hemodialysis treatment. Subjects volunteering for the study included 164 hemodialysis nurses and 79 chronic hemodialysis outpatients. Both nurses and patients anonymously completed a Patient Adjustment to Dialysis Inventory (PADI), consisting of 43 behaviors and attitudes reported by nurses in earlier research to be important for adjustment to chronic hemodialysis. Results showed that a majority (> 60%) of nurses and patients agreed that 33 of 43 behaviors and attitudes were at least important for patient adjustment to chronic hemodialysis. Nurses and patients disagreed as to whether 9 behaviors and attitudes were at least important, while agreeing that only one item was irrelevant. Results also showed that significantly more patients than nurses rated 25 out of 43 behaviors and attitudes as crucial (p < .05); approximately 50% of these related to interacting with staff, family, and friends. It was concluded that social and psychological criteria for adjustment to hemodialysis treatment should be defined. In addition, nurses and patients need to work together to individualize adjustment criteria, tailoring them to the patients' adaptive processes. Implications for patient rehabilitation are discussed.