Abstract
Introduction:
Among the dialysis modalities, there is a prevalence of hemodialysis (HD).
Objectives:
To verify who chooses the dialysis modality and which variables reflect the perception of patients and health care team about treatment.
Methods:
The study was conducted at three clinics of HD and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Two hundred and twenty patients participated in the study, of whom 69.5% were on HD and 30.5% on PD. Included voluntary patients on treatment from 90 days to 2 years, with. Of the 54 health workers, 18.5% were doctors, 20.4% nurses and 61.1% nurse technicians: Two questionnaires were applied: one for professionals and one for patients.
Results:
Most patients had their modality of dialysis chosen by doctors: 76.3%. Most patients rejected a change of treatment in both HD (83%) and PD (92.5%). There was a significant association by PD patients of their modality with greater safety (p = 0.041), well-being (p = 0.002), near normal life (p = 0.002), freedom (p < 0.001) and high-spirits (p = 0.021). HD patients perceive PD as allowing more freedom (p = 0.003), autonomy (p = 0.001) and high spirits (p = 0.019). In assessing the medical and nursing staff for clinical and psychosocial variables, professionals indicated a greater frequency for variables related to quality of life (p = 0.007), psychosocial well-being (p = 0.007) and clinical well-being (p = 0.004) when associated with PD therapy.
Conclusions:
The choice of dialysis modality was a decision solely of doctors in 76.3% of cases. PD was considered by the health care team as the best modality therapy with regard to quality of life, clinical and psychosocial well-being
Keywords:
kidney failure, chronic; nursing; peritoneal dialysis, continuous ambulatory; physicians; renal dialysis