| Theme | Support for Dialysis Patients' Families | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Support for family members of CAPD patients | |
| Publish Date | 1998/10 | |
| Author | Sanae Ogawa | Department of nursing, Hemodialysis Center, Musashino Red Cross Hospital |
| Author | Tsuneko Oyamada | Department of nursing, Hemodialysis Center, Musashino Red Cross Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is applied not only to independent renal failure patients, who are able to manage their own care but also to dependent ones. Understanding and cooperation by family members is essential for these patients to continue CAPD safely and comfortabiy. In addition, family members are faced with the restriction of free time in their own lives and consequentry mental stress, because they are forced to perform CAPD procedures and manage patient's health, in the case of dependent patients. In order to support patients' family members, medical staffs must reduce patients' uneasiness and mental stress as well as that of their family members. The choice of a sterile connection system in CAPD or an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) systems may reduce their technically related stress. The concept of informed consent by the doctor in charge, and education and guidance by the primary CAPD nurse should be given to patients and their family members at the start of conservative therapy. Frequent communication with the same staff members is a key point in creating a reliable patient-staff relationship. Another important point is consistent guidance at the beginning of CAPD by the primary ward nurse in conjunction with the primary CAPD nurse. Consultations by telephone also help to ease the minds of out patients' families. |
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