Author

Brittany Ross

Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Committee Chair

Anna Hamrick

Abstract

Background: Research has shown that non-adherence to the recommended treatment regimen in patients with chronic health conditions such as end stage renal disease can have detrimental consequences such as cardiac enlargement, difficulty breathing, cardiac arrest, and death. Several studies have shown a patient’s age, marital status, gender, and family support can affect adherence to treatment regimen in hemodialysis patients. Purpose: The goal of this study was to provide insight into the demographic factors that correlate with adherence to treatment regimen in hemodialysis patients. Method: This research study consisted of a retrospective chart review of 75 charts of chronic outpatient hemodialysis patients in two freestanding hemodialysis clinics in a midsized city in the southeastern United States. Using a chart audit tool, developed by the researcher, the following information was collected for this study: treatment attendance (three days per week), including shortening treatment, adherence to fluid restriction, and potassium and phosphorus values. The following demographic information was also collected for this study: age, race, cause of ESRD, gender, marital status, and hemodialysis vintage (how long a patient has been on hemodialysis). Results: The results indicated that treatment attendance was positively associated with being married. Conclusion: This study suggested that patients who lack spousal support may be more at risk of non-adherence to treatment attendance than patients who are married.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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