Haemodialysis Patients' Experiences on Complementary and Alternative Therapies: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: The term complementary and alternative therapies refers to a broad range of medical and healthcare procedures that are outside the purview of traditional medicine. Despite gaps in the scientific evidence to support its use and difficulties in regulating and integrating it into traditional healthcare procedures, the use of complementary and alternative therapies is constantly rising. Aim: This study aims to explore the experiences of complementary and alternative therapies among haemodialysis patients. Material and Methods: The study was carried out by adopting the qualitative descriptive research method. Semistructured qualitative interviews, with 17 haemodialysis patients, were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Data saturation was reached during interviews, and audio recordings were verbatim transcribed. Both researchers independently identified key topics, which were subsequently discussed and evaluated simultaneously. Results: We identified 4 overarching main themes in this setting: (1) Seeking Control over Health (to have control over their health status); (2) Relief from negative symptoms (to get rid of the negative symptoms they experience; (3) Hope (in the hope of feeling healthy again); and (4) Fear (in which they are afraid to tell health professionals and are afraid of not receiving support). Conclusion: This study showed that haemodialysis patients seek complementary and alternative therapies because of having control over their health, relief from negative symptoms, hope to feel healthy again, and fear of telling health professionals and receiving support. It is recommended that health professionals should provide information about the safety and possible side effects of these therapies and practice patient-centered treatment through active communication during the treatment process.

Keywords

• complementary therapies
• qualitative research
• renal dialysis

Hemodiyaliz Hastalarının Tamamlayıcı ve Alternatif Terapiler Konusunda Deneyimleri: Kalitatif Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Giriş: Tamamlayıcı ve alternatif terapiler, geleneksel tıbbın kapsamı dışında kalan geniş bir tıbbi ve sağlık prosedürleri yelpazesini ifade etmektedir. Kullanımını destekleyen bilimsel kanıtlardaki eksikliklere ve geleneksel sağlık prosedürlerine entegre edilmesi ve düzenlenmesindeki zorluklara rağmen, tamamlayıcı ve alternatif terapilerin kullanımı sürekli artmaktadır. Tamamlayıcı ve alternatif terapiler hakkındaki görüşler bu açıdan önem kazanmaktadır. Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, hemodiyaliz tedavisi alan hastaların tamamlayıcı ve alternatif terapiler konusundaki deneyimlerini araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma nitel tanımlayıcı araştırma yöntemi benimsenerek gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yarı yapılandırılmış nitel görüşmeler, 17 hemodiyaliz hastası ile yapılmış ve nitel içerik analizi ile analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Bu çalışmada 4 ana tema belirledik: (1) Sağlık Üzerinde Kontrol Arayışı (kendi sağlık durumları üzerinde kontrol sahibi olmak için); (2) Olumsuz semptomlardan kurtulma (yaşadıkları olumsuz belirtilerden kurtulmak için); (3) Umut (tekrar sağlıklı hissetme umuduyla); ve (4) Korku (sağlık çalışanlarına söylemekten korktukları ve destek alamamaktan çekinmeleri). Sonuç: Bu çalışma, hemodiyaliz hastalarının sağlıkları üzerinde kontrol sahibi olma, olumsuz semptomlardan kurtulma, yeniden sağlıklı hissetme umudu ve sağlık profesyonellerine söyleme ve destek alma korkusu nedeniyle tamamlayıcı ve alternatif tedavilere başvurduklarını göstermiştir. Bu çalışma, hemodiyaliz hastalarının tamamlayıcı ve alternatif tedavilerle ilgili deneyimlerinin derinlemesine anlaşılmasını sağlamıştır. Sağlık profesyonellerinin bu tedavilerin güvenliği ve olası yan etkileri hakkında bilgi vermesi ve tedavi sürecinde aktif iletişim yoluyla hasta merkezli tedavi uygulaması önerilmektedir. .

Keywords

• nitel araştırma
• renal diyaliz
• tamamlayıcı terapiler

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