How young people cope with chronic kidney disease: literature review

A triangulated evaluation of a youth clinic for patients with kidney disease

BACKGROUND

With inspiration from Oxford, UK, a youth clinic outside the hospital for young people with kidney disease was established at a Danish university hospital in Autumn 2014. Four clinics have been held annually.

OBJECTIVES

To qualitatively evaluate a new established youth clinic and to gain knowledge of the experiences of young people and their parents with this clinic.

METHODS

Three data sets were collected (observation, interviews and focus groups). Data were analysed using Malterud's systematic text condensation.

FINDINGS

Eight themes were identified: (1) A meeting place; (2) a mutual understanding; (3) the young people have established a social community between themselves; (4) I feel less directed by my kidney disease; (5) I accept my life with the disease to a larger extent; (6) I am the safety net; (7) they have their life with the disease under control and they handle it and (8) the youth clinic is a gift from heaven.

CONCLUSION

The youth clinic had a positive impact on the young peoples' daily life with kidney disease and has helped most of the young people to have more faith in themselves and their own abilities to handle life with kidney disease. Meeting with peers and the youth clinic being located outside the hospital were of utmost importance.

Depression, Anxiety, Resilience and Coping Pre and Post Kidney Transplantation - Initial Findings from the Psychiatric Impairments in Kidney Transplantation (PI-KT)-Study

PURPOSE

Depression/anxiety, impaired Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and coping and resilience structures, are associated with increased mortality/poor outcome in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients before (CKD/pre-KT) and after kidney (CKD-T) transplantation. Less is known about prevalence rates of psychiatric symptoms and impaired HRQoL of non-transplanted compared with transplanted patients.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study comparing 101 CKD/pre-KT patients with 151 cadaveric-transplanted (CKD-T) patients, we examined prevalence of depression/anxiety (HADS questionnaire) and coping, resilience and HRQoL (SF-12, Resilience-Scale and FKV-questionnaire).

RESULTS

The prevalence of both depressive and anxiety symptoms was not significantly different between different pre-/and CKD-T patient groups. In CKD-T no significant relations of coping strategies with kidney function were identified. Furthermore, the Resilience Scales for acceptance and competence did not suggest any differences between the CKD/pre-KT and CKD-T subgroup. In the CKD/pre-KT patients, significant correlations were identified between the acceptance subscale and partnership, as well as between the competence subscale and older age/partnership.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the CKD/pre-KT and CKD-T patients exhibited notable impairments in the HRQoL which which showed a comparable pattern of results. KT itself does not appear to be the main risk factor for the development of mental impairments.

The renal patient support group: supporting patients with chronic kidney disease through social media

BACKGROUND

The Renal Patient Support Group (RPSG) is a voluntary Facebook group that was developed in 2009 in the UK. The RPSG now has in excess of 5000 members.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the work of the RPSG and to describe how the use of social media has helped raise awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The RPSG offers online peer support internationally, with members sharing their experiences.

METHODS

Since the RPSG is mainly a Facebook platform, this medium has lent itself to raising CKD awareness, also allowing group members to share real-life stories.

CONCLUSION

The RPSG continues to expand and invites health professionals to gain opportunities provided by social media networks to improve the health of their patients by facilitating and getting involved in 'real' discussions.