| Theme |
Initiation, Maintenance and Discontinuation of Dialysis Therapy |
| Title |
How to help the patients on maintenance hemodialysis lead an independent and worthy life |
| Author |
Naoshi Horikawa |
Department of Psychiatry, Musashino Red Cross Hospital |
| Author |
Tomoko Yamazaki |
Department of Psychiatry, Musashino Red Cross Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
When health care providers try to help patients lead an independent and fulfilling life, we must know the meaning of "Ikigai", the Japanese word meaning the feeling and the cognition that life is worth living, and we should not make too much of our own views of life. Although what we can do for patients is limited by practicality, it is very important 1) to lighten the burden of dialysis treatment on patients and 2) to support patients, self-care especially by means of enhancing their health-belief and self-efficacy, as well as creating a good relationships between the patients and health care providers us. |