The Effect of the Care Given to Hemodialysis Patients on Comfort Level and Complaints

Overview

Kolcaba's comfort theory is a theory used by nurses to increase the comfort of patients. There are limited studies determining that nursing care provided according to this theory contributes to the increase in patients' comfort levels in various patient groups. This study will be carried out in the hemodialysis center of a public hospital located in the city center of Bingöl. Patients in the intervention group receiving hemodialysis treatment will be given nursing care by the researcher for 12 sessions during the sessions in which the patient receives hemodialysis treatment. In order to provide nursing care, nursing diagnoses suitable for the patient group will be determined in advance and the care the patient needs will be given according to these diagnoses.. If necessary, the researcher will add additional diagnoses to the preliminary diagnosis form and provide care. In this research, the individual nursing care needs of the researcher patient will be determined. Individualized caregiving is unique to this study. Individually provided care is expected to increase patient comfort and satisfaction. Increased comfort will help the patient cope more easily with the disease and hemodialysis treatment symptoms. In addition, the results of individual care provided can guide nurses in their care behaviors. By adding this research to the literature, the groundwork will be laid for studies that will provide individual care to patients. It is expected that the results of this research will guide the planning of the research and the provision of individualized care in all patient groups, especially patients receiving hemodialysis treatment.

American nurse theorist Katharine Kolcaba developed Comfort Theory based on the care observed or given. Kolcaba has worked in operating room, home care, and medical/surgical specialties. Kolcaba's Comfort Theory; It consists of levels of spaciousness, comfort and superiority (transcendence) and physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural and environmental dimensions. Comfort is an important goal of care that aims to provide the highest quality of life for the patient and their family. Good caregiving, family support, the way of managing information, the search for meaning in life, and the need to control life are important predictors of providing comfort. Patients' physical, sociocultural, psychospiritual and environmental problems affect their comfort. One of the treatment methods used for individuals with chronic kidney failure is Hemodialysis (HD). Living connected to a hemodialysis machine can cause physiological, psychological and social problems in sick individuals. The difficulties that patients face are that they experience physiological problems due to restriction in their nutrition, that they have to restrict fluids, that they live dependent on the treatment team, that they experience psychological problems related to changes in body image, that they experience social problems such as anxiety about the future and limitation of work life, and decreased social relations. These difficulties they experience negatively affect the daily lives and comfort of patients. Comfort is very important for patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. Nurses have important responsibilities in increasing the comfort levels and quality of life of HD patients. It is very important to plan, implement and evaluate nursing interventions . According to Kolcaba's Comfort Theory, the results of nursing care given to children with cancer have determined that it is an appropriate approach that helps make innovative interventions to provide comfort to children with cancer and allows the patient to be evaluated holistically .