RESUMO
Background: Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is a permanent condition which requires renal replacement therapy to maintain life. There are multiple modalities for the treatment of CKD including dialysis, non dialysis care and transplantation. Transplantation is not in reach of many patients and dialysis remains the only life saving treatment option for patients. Unfortunately, awareness is lacking in patients, even when they present with end stage renal disease with only immediate choice of hemodialysis
Objective: To assess the perception of renal failure patients regarding dialysis and treatment modalities, secondarily; to assess the status of medical counseling to these patients
Patients and methods: This descriptive study was conducted in medical ward and dialysis unit of Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital from January to June, 2011. A total of 68 patients of chronic renal failure irrespective of sex were included in this study, all the patients with CKD were included in this study, those patients who did not give informed verbal consent were excluded. Data was analyzed in SPSS 15
Results: A total of 68 patients were included in study. The mean age of study subjects was 41 +/- 9.5 years and 65% were male. When the perception of patients regarding their health problem was assessed, 58[85.3%] were knowing that they have end stage renal disease. When asked about the source of information about treatment modalities and dialysis, 53% reported that doctors are the source of information, while 36% reported Paramedics/Hakims as sources of information. When asked about which treatment option would you prefer, 71% of patients answered "Medicines", 23% answered "Dialysis", whereas, only 6% answered "Kidney transplant". When asked about the perceived benefits of dialysis, it was noted that 53% have perception that it has no benefit, 26% reported some symptom improvement. When study subjects were asked about possible side effects of dialysis, 56% has no knowledge of side effects, 21% reported that it damages kidney, 15% reported that it leads to death once started its use as treatment, another 8% has opinion that life is reduced due to stoppage of kidney functioning after the patient is on dialysis
Conclusion: Misconceptions among CKD patients regarding treatment modalities and dialysis are high and status of medical counseling is poor. There should be a standardized, comprehensive patient information system and personalized decision support to facilitate modality selection and to enable patients to make fully informed treatment decisions