Palliative care for patients with end-stage renal disease-An examination of unmet needs and experiencing problems

Palliative care for patients with end-stage renal disease-An examination of unmet needs and experiencing problems
Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Muhammad W. Darawad, Lynn F. Reinke, Amani Khalil, Ghaith Bani Melhem, Malek Alnajar; 6/25
Patients with end-stage renal disease face numerous physical, emotional, and financial burdens, necessitating palliative care (PC) interventions. This cross-sectional study ... revealed that 64.7% of participants experienced significant challenges, primarily financial difficulties (78.5%), autonomy concerns (68.8%), and a need for information (68.0%). More than half (51.9%) reported needing PC [palliative care], particularly for managing fatigue (78.3%), pain (79.8%), and depression (72.9%). Unmet needs were common (47.6%), with the most notable gaps in financial support (52.5%) and information provision (50%). These findings underscored the urgent need for tailored PC interventions for end-stage renal disease patients, particularly in addressing symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support, financial support, and information deficits, to enhance their quality of life.