Psychosocial consequences of gastrointestinal symptoms and dietary changes in people receiving automated peritoneal dialysis

Assessment of the perceptions of health-related quality of life in Greek patients undergoing automated peritoneal dialysis with remote monitoring: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore in depth the lived experience and quality of life outcomes in patients receiving automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) treatment.

METHODS

The study adhered to the standards of the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. A total of 19 APD patients were recruited and assessed using in-depth semi-structured interviews on various aspects of life with respect to APD modality. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.

RESULTS

Study findings generated five superordinate themes: (a) treatment-free daily routine, (b) sleep disturbances, (c) remote care, (d) limitations of peritoneal dialysis, and (e) the dimension of chronic disease. Further analysis of the material revealed the relationship of these themes with individual patient characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our findings suggest that APD characteristics contribute to the perceptions of quality of life in patients under dialysis considerably.

Range and consistency of gastrointestinal outcomes reported in peritoneal dialysis trials: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal (GI) health is considered vital to the success of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and is critically important to patients, caregivers and clinicians. However, the multiplicity of GI outcome measures in trials undermines the ability to evaluate the frequency, impact and treatment of GI symptoms in patients receiving PD. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the range and consistency of GI outcomes reported in contemporary PD trials.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

SETTING AND POPULATION

Individuals with kidney failure requiring PD.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials involving patients on PD, identified from the PUBMED, EMBASE and COCHRANE Central Registry of controlled Trials (CENTRAL) database, from January 2010 to July 2022.

INTERVENTIONS

Any PD-related intervention.

OUTCOMES

The frequency and characteristics of GI outcome measures were analysed and classified.

RESULTS

Of the 324 eligible PD trials, GI outcomes were only reported in 61 (19%) trials, mostly as patient-reported outcomes (45 trials; 74%). The most frequently reported outcomes were nausea in 27 (43%), diarrhoea in 26 (43%), vomiting in 22 (36%), constipation in 21 (34%) and abdominal pain in 19 (31%) of trials. PD peritonitis was the primary non-GI outcome reported in 24 (40%) trials, followed by death in 13 (21%) trials) and exit-site infection in 9 (15%) trials). Across all trials, 172 GI outcome measures were extracted and grouped into 29 different outcomes. Nausea and diarrhoea contributed to 16% and 15% of GI outcomes, respectively, while vomiting, constipation and abdominal pain contributed to 13%, 12% and 12%, respectively. Most (90%) GI outcomes were patient-reported adverse effects with no defined metrics. Faecal microbiome was reported as the primary study outcome in 3 (100%) trials using the subjective global assessment score, GI symptom rating scale and faecal microbiological and biochemical analysis. Two trials reported nausea as a primary study outcome using symptom assessment score (SAS) and kidney disease quality of life-short-form-36. One trial each reported anorexia and abdominal pain as the primary study outcome using SAS. Bowel habits, constipation and stool type were also reported as the primary study outcome in one trial each using the Bristol stool form scale. GI bleeding was reported as the secondary outcome in three (37%) out of eight trials reporting it.

LIMITATIONS

Restricted sampling frame to focus on contemporary trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the clinical importance of GI outcomes among patients on PD, they are reported in only 19% of PD trials, using inconsistent metrics, often as patient-reported adverse events. Efforts to standardise GI outcome reporting are critical to optimising comparability, reliability and value of trial evidence to improve outcomes for patients receiving PD.

Patient-reported gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with peritoneal dialysis: the prevalence, influence factors and association with quality of life

Background

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and the influence factors of gastrointestinal symptoms, and its association with the quality of life (QOL) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods

Continuous ambulatory PD patients (CAPD) who followed up in our PD center between March 2016 and December 2017 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) was used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms. The related clinical data were also collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was test for the influence factors associated with score of GSRS and QOL.

Results

This study included 471 CAPD patients. The mean age was 48.5±13.9 years, 53.9% were male and 15.1% with diabetic nephropathy. The median duration of PD was 37.3 (17.5~66.5) months. The median score of GSRS was 1.2(1.1~1.3) scores. Totally 82.2% (n=387) CAPD patients had at least one gastrointestinal symptom. Higher glycosylated hemoglobin, higher score of depression, lower diastolic blood pressure, urine output, score of instrumental activities of daily living scale and more amount of pills per day were independently associated with higher score of GSRS (all P<0.05). Score of dyspepsia and eating dysfunction were independently associated with worse score of QOL and physical health (all P<0.05).

Conclusions

Gastrointestinal symptoms were common but not serious in CAPD patients. Glycemic control, depression, blood pressure, urine output, activity of daily life and amount of pills were all associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms were correlated with QOL of PD patients.

Using an international online forum to explore perspectives of caregivers of patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience significant burden of care. Online forums provide an important platform for peer connection and expression of perspectives and concerns, but have not been used to capture consumer experiences in CKD research. Social support can improve caregivers' quality of life, with emerging research exploring online social support.

METHOD

This study employed qualitative content analysis to examine 159 posts on an online international forum: Caregivers of Patients with Kidney Disease to examine the experiences and concerns raised by caregivers of patients with CKD. Posts were coded using verbatim words and phrases, then arranged into three overarching themes, 12 categories and 71 sub-categories.

RESULTS

The overarching themes were Impact to Carer Wellbeing; Use of Online Social Support; Caregiver Knowledge. Online posts highlighted the psychological and physical challenges for caregivers of patients with CKD including social isolation, helplessness and the impact to paid employment. Participants used online social support to connect with peers and seek advice from the forum community on topics including: the patient's diet; clinical management; CKD symptoms; and how to support the patient to adhere to diet and medications.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insight into gaps in caregiver knowledge and their need to seek online peer support. Caregiver forums can inform support strategies from healthcare professionals to increase caregiver involvement in treatment and education options, as well as tangible assistance to support caregivers' and patients' needs, such as transportation services for dialysis patients.

Learned Helplessness in Renal Dialysis Patients: Concept Analysis with an Evolutionary Approach

BACKGROUND

Learned helplessness is an early psychological concept, but in the field of nursing, the concept of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients and its unique challenges are not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

This article provides a conceptual analysis of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients to increase knowledge of this psychological phenomenon in the setting of renal nursing.

DESIGN

Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis.

METHODS

The literature published in five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, CNKI) was searched using specific terms. In the first stage, search terms and strategies were used to narrow the relevant articles. In the second stage, the data were extracted from the included articles. In the third stage, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and the results were presented in the form of attributes, antecedents, consequences, surrogate terms, and related terms. We found additional instruments and interventions and presented a model case to emphasize the practicality of the concept. In the fourth phase, experts contributed to the discussion and interpretation of the findings.

RESULTS

A total of 22 articles were included. Four attributes of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients were identified: low self-concept, perceived loss, negative cognitive set, and abandonment of action. The antecedents were sociodemographic characteristics, disease and treatment, and psychological factors. Consequences were separated into four themes: psychological problems, physiological problems, quality of life, and health-related behavior. Surrogate terms are hopelessness and powerlessness, and the related term is depression.

CONCLUSION

The process of conceptual analysis in this study provides a means of identifying awareness gaps and practice challenges of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients and other concepts. The findings can be used to guide the design of tools and interventions to expand the use of learned helplessness theory in nursing.

Physical activity and exercise in peritoneal dialysis: International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis and the Global Renal Exercise Network practice recommendations

Life participation requiring physical activity and physical function is a key patient-reported outcome for people receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). Clinician guidance is required from multidisciplinary sources regarding exercise and activity advice to address the specific needs of this group. From August 2020 through to June 2021, the Global Renal Exercise Network and the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis reviewed the published literature and international clinical experience to develop a set of clinical practice points. A set of questions relevant to physical activity and exercise were developed from the perspective of a person receiving PD and were the basis for the practice point development. The GRADE framework was used to evaluate the quality of evidence and to guide clinical practice points. The review of the literature found sparse quality evidence, and thus the clinical practice points are generally based on the expert consensus of people receiving PD, PD exercise expert clinicians and experienced PD exercise researchers. Clinical practice points address timing of exercise and activity (post-catheter insertion, peritoneal space empty or full), the uptake of specific activities (work, sex, swimming, core exercise), potential adverse outcomes related to activity and exercise (exit site care, perspiration, cardiovascular compromise, fatigue, intra-abdominal pressure), the effect of exercise and activity on conditions of interest (mental health, obesity, frailty, low fitness) and exercise nutrition.

Patient perspectives of coping with automated peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) experience poor quality of life, depression, anxiety and lifestyle changes. Insights into how patients adjust to and cope with PD from a psychological perspective will aid care.

METHODS

Participants were recruited purposively through the Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service in South Australia. Ten patients receiving automated PD (APD) (5 females and 5 males) aged 31 to 77 years (M = 59.3) participated in a semi-structured interview. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically through inductive and deductive methods.

RESULTS

Five main themes representing participants' experiences and perspectives of adjusting to and coping with APD were identified: (1) Resigned Acceptance, (2) A Bridge to Transplant, (3) Navigating Emotions at Milestones and Transitions, (4) Professional Support (Sub-themes: Psychological Support and Education and Information Delivery and (5) Social Enablers (Sub-theme: Hidden from View and Hiding Illness).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients employ cognitive, emotional and behavioural strategies and rely strongly on social supports to cope with APD. PD at home aids preservation of pre-illness identity, however, also results in feelings of isolation and being misunderstood. Psychological distress and poor coping may be heightened at key disease milestones and transition periods when professional psychological support should be offered. We provide suggestions to address patients' psychosocial needs and coping in treatment decision-making and dialysis care.