Perceived benefits and burdens encountered by relatives caring for person on long-term haemodialysis in Johannesburg. This study examines the perceived benefits and burdens of family members caring for persons on long term Haemodialysis. The caregiver burden scale by Elmastahl, Malmeberg and Annerstedtl (1996) was used for the purposes of the study. The participants were selected by Census (total) sampling. The sample consisted of family caregivers who were 18 years and above who were selected from three haemodialysis units in Johannesburg. Permission to conduct the study was requested and granted from all relevant authorities. One hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed amongst the three haemodialysis units of which seventy nine participants responded to the study. Data were analysed using the statistical package STATA version 12. Demographic data and the caregiver burden scale were analysed through frequency counts, percentages and graphs were constructed from the collected data and analysed. Cross tabulations, using Fisher’s exact test were performed to determine the relationship between the demographic information and factors of the caregiver burden scale. The results are presented in the form of tables and graphs. Semi structured questionnaire with an option for elaboration were analysed using content analysis to enumerate a deeper understanding of the perceived burdens and benefits of caring for a person on Haemodialysis. Findings from the study concluded that family caregivers have encountered both benefits and burdens when caring for a person on Haemodialysis. The following factors have emerged namely demographics which include age, gender, relation to patient, highest education level, employment, ethnicity and duration of care and the factors surrounding general strain, isolation, disappointment, emotional involvement and environment. The factors, whether good or poor, are not always a predictor of perceived benefits and burdens of caring for persons on long term haemodialysis. The overall caregiver burden score, inclusive of all factors, showed a median score of 46.59% of all family caregivers’ experienced burden in caring for their relative on haemodialysis. Health education and support for the family caregivers proved to be a need in improving and reducing the caregiver burden. Caregiver health is quickly becoming a public health care issue that requires a more focused attention from health professionals, policy makers and caregivers themselves to ensure the health and safety of those dedicating their lives to the care of their relatives on haemodialysis.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 2009. / Title from web page (viewed on Oct. 5, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Methods: All patients (5606) with at least one serum creatinine ≥130μmol/L in females and ≥150μmol/L (Index creatinine) in males during a 6 month period in 2003 were grouped according to whether they had Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), Acute on chronic renal failure (ACRF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). 1903 patients could  not be classified. After using all available creatinine data and identifying markers of kidney damage a further group of patients with CKD were identified. Case records were examined for the presence of co-morbidity, date of death, cause of death and whether they were known to a renal physician. Results: 1225 patients were identified as having CKD out of the 1903 “Unclassified” cohort (65%). The majority of CKD patients were elderly females with Stage 3 CKD. Hypertension and ischaemic heart disease were the two most common co-morbid conditions. Only 12% of CKD patients were referred to a nephrologists. 43% of CKD patients were dead at follow-up mostly from cardiovascular causes (31^st December 2005). The presence of proteinuria was independently associated with death. The age adjusted standardised prevalence of CKD, excluding those on RRT, was 20929 per million adult population. 3.6% went on to start RRT by the end of follow-up. Conclusions: CKD is predominantly a condition of elderly females, associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. However the majority of patients die from cardiovascular disease before progressing to ESRD. Therefore these patients may be appropriately managed in primary care without the need for specialist renal input allowing targeting of the specialist renal resources to the fewer patients who require them.

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Lic.-avh. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Nursing. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2004. / "A dissertation in nursing." Advisor: Peggy Ward-Smith. Typescript. Vita. Title from "catalog record" of the print edition Description based on contents viewed feb. 27, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-131). Online version of the print edition.

The aim of this thesis was to assess whether platelet, endothelial and coagulation biomarkers of thrombotic risk are increased in ECKD-HD patients. Five individual studies were performed (1) venous blood samples between controls and resting HD patients, (2) simultaneous blood samples between vascular access (VA) and venous samples in HD patients (3) pre and post dialysis from the VA, (4) samples pre and post dialysis in venous samples, (5) a retrospective study of VA thrombosis in HD patients. Venous blood samples were taken from 78 resting healthy volunteers and from 78 HD patients immediately before and 30 minutes after dialysis. We also took blood samples from the VA of 55 patients immediately before and after dialysis. In 26 patients venous and VA samples were taken simultaneously. Our results have shown HD patients potentially have evidence of a prothrombotic state compared to controls. This is further increased by each session of dialysis and is present in both VA and venous samples distant from the site of haemodialysis. We have shown some differences in platelet activation and inflammatory markers between simultaneous VA and venous samples. Furthermore, some of these biomarkers may be associated with a retrospective history of VA occlusion. Our study has shown that in patients with ECKD on HD there may be evidence of an underlying prothrombotic tendency. There is a need to determine the optimal anti-platelet and anti-coagulation therapy in these patients.