Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Suchitra Pal ^{1, 2}
• Santhna Letchmi Panduragan ³
• Faridah Mohd Said ⁴

¹ Faculty of Nursing, Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, 12-18 Jalan SS 6/12. 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

² Chief Nursing Superintendent, Central Hospital, South Eastern Railway, Kolkata, India

³ Faculty of Nursing, University of Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia

⁴ Head of Postgraduate Studies, Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, 12-18, Jalan SS 6/12, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a global health issue, with patients facing several challenges in managing the condition. While much of the research in India has focused on patients undergoing hemodialysis, the experiences of pre-dialysis CKD patients remain under-investigated. Understanding the barriers to effective self-management in this group is critical, as inadequate disease management can accelerate disease progression to end-stage renal disease, requiring costly renal replacement therapy and adversely affecting quality of life. The present study addressed this gap by exploring the lived experiences of CKD patients who have not yet started RRT.
Method: A phenomenological approach was adopted (from 1^st April to 27^th June, 2024) in this study. Fifteen patients were selected by purposive sampling based on diagnosis, disease stage, and willingness to participate. Face-to-face interviews were conducted till data saturation. Data were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed manually following Kiger and Varpio’s six-step thematic analysis.
Results: Participants included twelve males and three females. Data analysis revealed four themes with nine subthemes: (1) knowledge deficits (about the disease and disease management, (2) non-compliance (dietary restrictions, treatment, and lifestyle modifications), (3) difficulties in coping (restricted socialization, emotional and psychological struggles), and (4) need for educational content (lack of content, preferred learning methods).
Conclusion: Pre-dialysis CKD patients encounter several barriers to self-management. The findings suggest that certain educational interventions are crucial for effective disease management. The findings provide valuable insights for enhancing nursing practices, developing targeted interventions, improving patient outcomes, and ultimately slowing the progression of CKD.

Keywords

• Chronic kidney disease
• lived experience
• self-management
• self-care deficit
• qualitative