Coping Behavoiurs of Haemodialised Patients, Families in a Private Clinic in Gauteng

Mphuthi, David

Tuesday, 1 November 2011: 10:00 AM

David Mphuthi, RN, RM, B, Cur(Ed, et, Adm)
7 York Road, Department of nursing education (Witwatersrand University), Johannesburg, South Africa

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the importance of family involvement in the dialysis units.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to understand the frustrations that the families of a haemodilysed patients are going through.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Chronic renal failure patients are confronted with many challenges and often express feelings of being a burden to their families. Since the inception of haemodialysis in 1913 limited research has been conducted to explore the coping behaviours of the families of haemodialysed patient especially in the South African context. The family’s inability to cope with the condition and treatment, may impact on their wellness as well as that of the family member on haemodialysis. In light of the limited research available on the coping behaviours of families of haemodialysed patients, this study set out to describe the coping behaviours using the Family Crisis Orientated Personal Scale (F-Copes) developed by McCubbin, Larsen and Olson.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD: The study followed an explanatory mixed method approach with sequential design and was divided into two phases. Phase one addressed the first objective in identifying and describing the coping behaviours of the families using the F-COPES scale. During phase two, the researcher conducted interviews to explore the coping behaviour identified in phase one.

RESULTS: The scores of subscales of the F-COPES scale ranged from 3.05 to 4.16 with reliability indices found to be within normal range. The average mean score for the subscale “seeking spiritual support” measured highest at 4.16, followed by “mobilising the family to acquire and accept help” (M=3.94). “Acquiring social support” measured lowest at 3.05. Four categories emanated from the thematic analysis of the data from the second phase namely, challenges, coordinated care, support structures and beliefs about disease.

CONCLUSION: “seeking spiritual support, mobilising the family to acquire and accept help, reframing and acquiring social support” showed concordance with the categories derived from the qualitative data. Supporting evidence for “passive appraisal” the first phase and “challenges” as a category from the second phase could not be found.

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