Family relationships of women on hemodialysis

Abstract

may generate anguish and fear of the unknown. The person with chronic kidney disease depends of care,and the family is characterized as a fundamental element in the process of meeting the patient’s needs;however, the emotions in family relationships can be considered positive or negative, since the complexityof each family sets the differences and consistencies of each person. Objective: To know the family relationshipsof women on hemodialysis in the context of chronic kidney disease. Materials and Methods:A qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study, carried out in 2012 in a nephrology service. Participantswere six women on hemodialysis who answered open and closed questions and had their family genogramconstructed by an instrument. For the analysis, exhaustive reading of data, coding and aggregation to corethemes was performed. Results: The core themes involved the negative and positive family relationshipsexperienced by women on hemodialysis. In negative family relationships, difficulties in paying attention,offering support, and understanding the demands of care generated by hemodialysis were observed, withconflict and neglect in some cases. In positive family relationships, there was support, understanding andcare according to the needs. Conclusions: Negative or positive family relationships of women with kidneydisease on hemodialysis may be linked with existing interpersonal relationships. Thus, knowing the familyrelationships of women on hemodialysis can promote appropriate intervention in aspects of family life.