End-stage renal disease (ESRD) introduces physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual challenges into patients’ lives. Spirituality has been found to contribute to improved health outcomes, mainly in the areas of quality of life (QOL) and well-being. No studies exist to explore the influences of spirituality on the health outcomes and general well-being in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving haemodialysis (HD) treatment in Scotland. This study was therefore carried out to examine and explore spirituality in the day-to-day lives of patients with ESRD receiving HD treatment and how it may influence their health outcomes and, in particular, QOL and general well-being. The study described in this thesis employed a sequential mixed method approach over two stages: quantitative and qualitative. Following ethical approval, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with 72 patients from 11 dialysis units recruited from four Health Boards in Scotland. The participants in the study were regular patients attending the dialysis units three times per week. Data on patients’ quality of life, general well-being, and spirituality were collected using self-administered questionnaires including demographic information: the Short Form Medical Outcome Study Questionnaire (SF-36v2), the General Health Questionnaire, and the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire. The data were analysed using the Predictive Analytics Software for Windows. The findings highlighted that patients’ quality of life was markedly lower than the United Kingdom general population average norms of 50. Increasing age was associated with better mental health but worse physical health. The survey also found that there were no significant associations between spirituality and patients’ quality of life and general well-being. However, it was considered important to complement and enrich the survey findings by gaining a deeper understanding of the influences of spirituality on patients’ health outcomes and general well-being by carrying out the qualitative component of the study. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews with a subsample of 21 patients from those who participated in the survey. A thematic approach using Framework Analysis informed the qualitative data analysis. Four main themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: ‘Emotional and Psychological Turmoil’, ‘Life is Restricted’, ‘Spirituality’ and ‘Other Coping Strategies’. The findings from the interviews confirmed that patients’ quality of life might be affected because of the physical challenges such as unremitting fatigue, disease unpredictability, or being tied down to a dialysis machine, or the emotional and psychological challenges imposed by the disease into their lives such as wholesale changes, dialysis as a forced choice and having a sense of indebtedness. The findings also revealed that spirituality was an important coping strategy for the majority of participants who took part in the qualitative component (n=16). Different meanings of spirituality were identified including connection with God or Supernatural Being, connection with the self, others and nature/environment. Spirituality encouraged participants to accept their disease and offered them a sense of protection, instilled hope in them and helped them to maintain a positive attitude to carry on with their daily lives, which may have had a positive influence on their health outcomes and general well-being. The findings also revealed that humour was another coping strategy that helped to diffuse stress and anxiety for some participants and encouraged them to carry on with their lives. The findings from this study contribute knowledge to increase our understanding of the influence of spirituality on the health outcomes and general well-being of patients with end-stage renal disease currently receiving haemodialysis treatment. Based on the findings from this thesis, recommendations are made for clinical practice, patient and nurse education and for future research.

The purpose of this study was to examine health literacy and treatment adherence among Latinos with end stage renal disease. Health literacy has been overlooked as one of the factors that affects one's ability to comply with the physician's prescribed medical treatment.

This study looked into paients’ experiences of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and renal replacement therapy (RRT). A qualitative me thodology was employed involving fifteen patients between the ages of 20 – 60 years that were interviewed on their experiences using the semi structured approach to interviewing. The knowledge gained was analysed thematically. The study was explored within two theoretical frameworks, namely the biopsychosocial and the ecological models. Results of the study revealed that ESRD and RRT posed many psychosocial challenges at a micro and macro level, as patients attempted to reconcil e these experiences with their lifestyles and lives. Challenges were expressed in the areas of functional capacity, work and sexuality. Family life was seriously affected when patients had to make themselves available for life long tr eatment that depended on machines. Recommendations included mobilisatio n of positive support networks, religion/spirituality, and pr ofessional support playing an interrelational role in enabling patients to cope through the long term process so that they may emerge from it with a modicum of quality in their life. Thus a team approach was key to optimal living for the patient. From an ecological perspective, macrosystemic change was also considered important for government to introduce policies that ensure economically productive living for persons with kidney dysfunction. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

DISSERTATION (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN / CO-CHAIRMEN: ARNOLD MONTO; GENE HIGASHI

DISSERTATION (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN / CO-CHAIRMEN: ARNOLD MONTO; GENE HIGASHI

Thesis (MNutr (Human Nutrition))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background Patients with chronic renal failure must deal not only with the disease itself, but also have to follow a strict dietary regimen. In South Africa there is currently a great demand for new and updated recipes based on the South African Renal Exchange Lists. The focus of this research was the development and testing of recipes commonly used by renal patients following a westernised diet. Objectives The main objectives of the study were to develop and test recipes that meet the nutritional requirements of patients with chronic renal failure. The secondary objectives were to determine the gender and racial differences in participants’ responses during consumer sensory testing. Methodology The study population consisted of patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis from Tygerberg Academic Hospital (TAH). Data was collected in three phases, using census sampling: Phase 1 included the development and adaptation of recipes to suit the renal diet. Phase 2 included the consumer sensory testing of the recipes by the dialysis patients, using the 9-point hedonic scale. Phase 3 included the rating of the recipes, the final nutritional analysis and allocation of renal exchanges to one portion of each recipe, as well as the final formatting of the recipe to make it more user-friendly for the renal patient. Results In total, 45 patients took part in the sensory evaluation of 30 recipes. Eighty percent of the subjects were coloured, 4% were white while 16% were black. Fifty-one percent (n=23) were female and 49% (n=22) were male. Of the 30 recipes that were evaluated for overall acceptance, appearance, smell, texture and taste, only 7 were deemed unacceptable. Recipes were unacceptable when less than 80% of the study participants gave a mean overall score of more than 6. Significant differences in the overall acceptability scores were found between the male and female subgroups for the Fish and Vegetable Pie (p=0.031), Chicken Pilaf (p=0.008) and Date Fingers (p=0.002). The females showed a greater preference for these two main meals while the males showed a greater preference for the Date Fingers. Significant differences were found between the black and westernised subgroups for the Rice Salad (p=0.006), Wheat and Mushroom Casserole (p=0.022), Curried Wheat Salad (p=0.043) and the Coconut Ice (p=0.005), with the westernised subgroup showing a greater preference for the dishes than the black subgroup. Conclusion The 23 recipes that were acceptable to the study participants are recommended for inclusion in the RenalSmart Software programme. These recipes are suitable for patients following a westernised diet. It is proposed that recipes suitable for the black and Indian population must be developed in future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond Pasiënte met chroniese nierversaking moet nie net slegs die siektetoestand hanteer nie, maar moet ook ‘n streng dieet regime volg. Daar is huidiglik in Suid-Afrika ‘n groot behoefte vir nuwe en opgedateerde resepte gebasseer op die Suid-Afrikaanse Nier Ruillyste. Die fokus van hierdie navorsing was om resepte te ontwikkel en te toets wat algemeen ingeneem word deur nierversaking pasiënte wat ‘n westerse dieet volg. Doelwitte Die hoof doelwitte van die studie was om resepte te identifiseer en te toets wat voldoen aan die nutrisionele behoeftes van nierpasiënte met kroniese nierversaking. Die sekondêre doelwitte was om geslag en ras verskille in die deelnemers se reaksies tydens verbruiker sensoriese evaluering te bepaal. Metodologie Die studie populasie het bestaan uit pasiënte met chroniese nierversaking op hemodialise en aaneenlopende ambulatoriese peritoneale dialise van Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal (TAH). Data was versamel in drie fases deur gebruik te maak van sensus steekproeftrekking: Fase 1 het die ontwikkeling en aanpassings van die resepte, om dit toepaslik te maak vir die nier dieet, ingesluit. Fase 2 het die verbruiker sensoriese evaluering van die resepte deur die dialise pasiënte, met behulp van die 9-punt hedoniese skaal, ingesluit. Fase 3 het die klassifisering van die resepte, die finale nutrisionele analise en die toekenning van nier ruile per porsie van elke resep, sowel as die finale formatering om die resep meer gebruikersvriendelik te maak vir die nierpasiënt, ingesluit. Resultate In totaal het 45 pasiënte aan die sensoriese evaluering van die 30 resepte deelgeneem. Tagtig persent van die deelnemers was kleurling, 4% was wit en 16% was swart. Een en vyftig persent (n=23) was vroulik en 49% (n=22) was manlik. Van die 30 resepte wat geevalueer is vir algehele aanvaarding, voorkoms, reuk, tekstuur en smaak, was slegs 7 onaanvaarbaar gevind. Resepte is as onaanvaarbaar beskou indien minder as 80% van die deelnemers ‘n gemiddelde algehele telling van meer as 6 gegee het. Beduidende verskille in die algehele aanvaarbaarheid tellings is gevind tussen die mans en vroue vir die Vis en Groente Pastei (p=0.031), Hoender Pilaf (p=0.008) en Dadelvingers (p=0.002). Die vrouens het ‘n groter voorkeur vir die twee hoofgeregte getoon terwyl die mans ‘n groter voorkeur vir die Dadelvingers getoon het. Beduidende verskille is gevind tussen die swart en westerse sub-groepe vir die Rysslaai (p=0.006), Koring en Sampioen Kasserol (o=0.022), Kerrie Koringslaai (p=0.043) en die Klapperys (p=0.005), met die westerse sub-groep wat ‘n groter voorkeur vir dié geregte toon as die swartes. Gevolgtrekking Die 23 resepte wat aanvaarbaar gevind is sal voorgestel word om ingesluit te word in die RenalSmart Sagteware program. Die resepte is toepaslik vir pasiënte wat ‘n westerse dieet volg. Daar word voorgestel dat resepte toepaslik vir die swart en Indiër populasie ontwikkel word in toekomstige navorsing.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The young field of gene therapy offers the promises of significant progress towards the treatment of many different types of human diseases. Gene therapy has been proposed as an innovative way to treat Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Through proteomic analysis, the upregulation of two enzymes, IDH2 and SULT1C2, within the mitochondrial fraction has been identified following ischemic preconditioning, a treatment by which rat kidneys are protected from ischemia. Using the hydrodynamic fluid gene delivery technique, we were able to upregulate the expression of IDH2 and SULT1C2 in the kidney. We found that the delivery of IDH2 plasmid through hydrodynamic fluid delivery to the kidney resulted in increased mitochondrial oxygen respiration compared with injured kidneys without gene delivery. We also found that renal ischemic preconditioning altered the membrane fluidity of mitochondria. In conclusion, our study supports the idea that upregulated expression of IDH2 in mitochondria can protect the kidney against AKI, while the protective function of upregulated SULT1C2 needs to be further studied.

Bakgrund: När en person drabbats av kronisk njursvikt är dialysbehandling eller njurtransplantation de enda alternativen för överlevnad. Välbefinnandet kan komma att påverkas av den livsomställning som krävs för vårdsökande personen. Behandling med hemodialys är tidskrävande och påfrestande då den innebär begränsningar i det dagliga livet.Syfte: Att beskriva upplevelser av att leva med och hemodialys. Metod: Litteraturöversikt med en integrerad analys utifrån 10 vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Resultatet beskrivs genom två underkategorier; Välbefinnande som beskriver de positiva aspekterna vårdsökande upplevde i det dagliga livet samt vikten av stöd från familj och vänner. Illabefinnande som beskriver vilka begränsningar och restriktioner som vårdsökande upplevde i det dagliga livet samt påverkan på dagliga aktiviteter som uppstod i samband med behandlingen. Välbefinnande innehar två underkategorier och illabefinnande innehar fyra underkategorier. Slutsatser: Välbefinnandet påverkades hos vårdsökande personer. Stöd från familj och vänner samt vårdpersonal ansågs som värdefullt. Återkommande faktorer som ansågs påfrestande var känslan av konstant törst samt svårigheten att leva som önskat / Background: For a person who’s suffering from chronic renal failure, are dialysis or kidney transplant the only option for survival. The well-being can be affected by the life adjustment that is required of the patient. Treatment with hemodialysis is time-consuming and stressful as it involves limitations in daily life. Aim: To describe the experiences of living with hemodialysis. Method: Literature review with an integrated analysis based on 10 scientific articles. Results: The results are described in two categories; Well-being that describe the positive aspects which patients experienced in daily life and the importance of support from family and friends. Malaise that describes the limitations and restrictions that patients experienced in daily life and the impact on daily activities that arose in connection with the treatment. Well-being contains two subcategories and malaise contains four subcategories. Conclusions: The well-being impacted the patients. Support from family and friends as well as from health professionals were considered as valuable. Recurring factors considered stressful was the feeling of constant thirst and difficulty of living as desired.

Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine long-term renal function in boys presenting with posterior urethral valves at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital and to determine the prognostic value of certain clinical, biochemical and radiological variables DESIGN Retrospective, descriptive study of boys diagnosed and treated with posterior urethral valves at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital between 2001 and 2011. RESULTS Between 2001 and 2011, 47 cases of posterior urethral valves were diagnosed and treated at our institution. Thirteen patients were excluded from this study. Seven (20,6%) were diagnosed antenatally and 27 (79,4%) presented postnatally. Mean age at presentation was 13,9 months (median 2; range 0-74). The most common postnatal presentation was urinary tract infection (51,9%). Mean follow-up was 54,2 months (median 47,5; range 12-133). A total of 13 boys (38,2%) progressed to chronic renal failure or end-stage renal disease. Initial and nadir serum creatinine, poor corticomedullary differentiation and moderate-severe hydronephrosis were significant predictors of final renal function (p<0,050). Patient age at presentation, type of primary surgical intervention, increased renal echogenicity, bladder wall thickness, the presence of vesicoureteric reflux (no matter what the laterality or severity), severe bladder dysfunction and initial or breakthrough urinary tract infection had no significant impact on future renal function. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed that boys with an initial serum creatinine ≥145μmol/L and a nadir serum creatinine ≥62μmol/L were at highest risk to develop chronic renal insufficiency (area under the curve 0,8 and 0,9, respectively). CONCLUSION More than a third of boys (38,2%) developed chronic renal failure or end-stage renal disease at the end of follow-up. Our data confirmed the high prognostic value of initial and nadir serum creatinine. Optimal threshold levels for initial and nadir serum creatinine to predict final renal function were 145μmol/L and 62μmol/L, respectively. Similarly, poor corticomedullary differentiation and moderate-severe hydronephrosis on initial kidney ultrasound were significant indicators of poor renal prognosis. Although all patients with posterior urethral valves should be counselled on potential renal morbidity, children with risk factors warrant closer monitoring. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DOELWITTE Die doel van hierdie studie was om langtermyn nierfunksie te bepaal in seuns wat gediagnoseer is met posterior uretrale kleppe by Tygerberg-kinderhospitaal. Die prognostiese waarde van sekere kliniese, biochemiese en radiologiese veranderlikes is ook ondersoek. STUDIE ONTWERP Retrospektiewe, beskrywende studie van seuns wat tussen 2001 en 2011 by Tygerberg-kinderhospitaal gepresenteer het met posterior uretrale kleppe. RESULTATE Tussen 2001 en 2011 is 47 gevalle van posterior uretrale kleppe gediagnoseer en behandel by ons instelling. Dertien pasiënte is uitgesluit van hierdie studie. Sewe (20,6%) is met voorgeboorte sonar gediagnoseer en 27 (79,4%) het ná geboorte gepresenteer. Die gemiddelde ouderdom by diagnose was 13,9 maande (mediaan 2; reeks 0-74 ). Urienweginfeksie was die mees algemene metode waarmee postnatale pasiënte gepresenteer het (51,9%). Die gemiddelde opvolgperiode was 54,2 maande (mediaan 47,5; reeks 12-133). Dertien seuns (38,2%) het chroniese nierversaking of eind-stadium nierversaking ontwikkel. Aanvanklike en nadir serumkreatinien, swak kortiko-medullêre differensiasie en matig-erge hidronefrose was beduidende voorspellers van finale nierfunksie (p<0,050). Pasiënt ouderdom met diagnose, tipe chirurgiese ingryping, verhoogde niereggogenisiteit, blaaswanddikte, vesikoureteriese refluks, blaasdisfunksie en aanvanklike of deurbraak urienweginfeksies het geen beduidende impak op toekomstige nierfunksie gehad nie. Seuns met 'n aanvanklike serumkreatinien ≥145μmol/L en 'n nadir serumkreatinien ≥62μmol/L het die grootste risiko om chroniese nierversaking te ontwikkel, soos bevestig met ‘n ROC-ontleding (AUC 0,8 en 0,9, onderskeidelik). GEVOLGTREKKING Meer as 'n derde van die pasiënte (38,2%) het chroniese nierversaking of eindstadium nierversaking ontwikkel. Ons data bevestig die prognostiese waarde van aanvanklike en nadir serumkreatinienvlakke. Die optimale drempelwaardes vir die aanvanklike en nadir serumkreatinien om finale nierfunksie te voorspel was 145μmol/L en 62μmol/L, onderskeidelik. Swak kortiko-medullêre differensiasie en matig-erge hidronefrose op die aanvanklike niersonar was ook beduidende aanwysers van toekomstige nierfunksie. Alhoewel alle pasiënte met posterior uretrale kleppe berading moet ontvang oor potensiële niermorbiditeit, regverdig seuns met risikofaktore noukeurige monitering.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health