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Adjustment demands through diagnosis and treatment of end stage renal disease
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- Author / Creator
- Dhillon, Karen JK
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End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a chronic illness that results when the kidneys are no longer able to function to maintain life. Upon cessation of kidney function, patients must undergo life long medical treatment involving dialysis or transplantation to survive. Patients face an adverse situation as both the disease and treatment are life threatening, and there is no cure. Despite the numerous advancements in treating ESRD, a myriad of stressors affect patients’ lives that require significant adjustment. Adjustment is a construct that is not well defined in the literature, or understood from a patient’s perspective. For the purpose of this study, adjustment will be explored in terms of adjustment demands patients face as they progress through diagnosis and treatment of ESRD. No research has been found on adjustment demands faced by recipients of kidney transplants in Canada. Additionally, no research has been done in Occupational Therapy and adjustment in patients with ESRD. This was a qualitative study utilizing a phenomenological approach. Study results stress the need for individualized holistic care, education and support.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2012
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.