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The Burdens On Caregivers Of Patients Above 65 Years Old Receiving Hemodialysis: A Qualitative Study

Alnazly EK and Samara NA

Background: End-stage renal failure is a chronic disease routinely treated with hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is the disease’s only available treatment in Jordan; it is a life-long treatment that imposes burdens on patients and their caregivers. Most patients have unpaid family caregivers who do a variety of tasks and so become increasingly burdened, occupied with those tasks, and unable to participate in activities of interest to them. Aim: The goal of this study is to explore the experience of caregivers of patients 65 years and older receiving hemodialysis in order to understand the burdens of this specific population. Methods: The study subjects were the caregivers of patients who received outpatient hemodialysis at one outpatient hemodialysis center in the capital city of Amman, Jordan. A total number of nine caregivers were included in the study. The caregivers’ ages ranged from 35 to 65, averaging 50 years old, but the patients were above 65 years old. An interview guide with semi-structured questions and Colaizzi's strategy of descriptive phenomenological data analysis were used. Result: The majority of caregiver subjects reported social isolation, health problems, and little time for self-care. Factors alleviating caregiver burdens included faith in God, participating in religious practices and venting of feelings. Conclusions: Identification of caregiver burdens and of coping strategies should help healthcare professionals understand the caregivers’ burdens and identify their needs by patients receiving hemodialysis to relieve their psychosocial and physical burdens.