| Theme |
Sense of loss of dialysis patients -- support for understanding and overcoming |
| Title |
Clinical psychologists support hemodialysis patients' loss |
| Author |
Yutaka Haramaki |
Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University |
| [ Summary ] |
Hemodialysis patients experience various types of losses in their daily lives and seek an optimal lifestyle including in terms of hemodialysis treatment. If they can stop being fixated on what they have lost and are assisted with setting up new goals, they can live active and positive lives. Moreover, medical staff need to closely monitor and manage physical conditions in patients undergoing hemodialysis to help the latter maintain a respectable lifestyle. Relating to patients in an empathetic manner would help staff to better understand the patients' condition and also how their sense of loss is influenced by the patients' attitudes, which would be an area of focus for staff to work upon to help the patients. This kind of sensitive care helps patients remain positive and learn to vent grief/anger in healthy ways. Showing respect for patients and their needs is a fundamental component of holistic caregiving to assist hemodialysis patients to get over their losses and develop self-sufficiency. |