Background: Hemodialysis (HD) is an important objective burden (task) on patient with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the caregiver has a subjective burden which contributes to lifestyle changes, which result in depression, anxiety declining physical health, social isolation and financial strain. Aim: To evaluate the subjective burden on family caregiver who cares patient on maintenance hemodialysis therapy. Methods: Fifty main family caregivers for each patient on HD and the instrument were used by Caregiver Burden Interview (CBI) completed by caregiver as a major of subjective response to care giving. Results: The present study findings demonstrated that main age of caregiver was 40 (11.0) years, two thirds of females, and they were mostly married (78.0%) with children. The total family caregiver burden reported was 43.3 (21.7), role strain 50.0 (25.4) and the personal strain 39.5 (19.7). The total caregivers' burden significantly positively correlated with the patients' age (r = 0.461) and negatively correlated with patients' level of education (r = −0.290). Moreover the role strain, personal strain and total caregiver burden scores were statistically and significantly negatively correlated with their age (r = −0.444) and level of education (r = −0.416) and the total burden scores were ranked as moderately to severely burdened all family caregivers. Conclusion: Caregivers' appraisal, coping strategies, interpersonal relationship issues, and social support would need to be considered for caregivers of patients maintained on HD.

Quality of Life (QoL) is a consistent and powerful predictor that affects the out-come in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis. This study was undertaken to identify the factors that might predict QoL scores among ESRD patients on hemodialysis (HD). The study was conducted at three HD units in Saudi Arabia from January 2007 to January 2008. We studied 100 HD patients (53 males and 47 females) and used the SF-36 and KDQoL-SF forms covering six domains of QoL, namely physical, emotional, social, illness impact, medical and financial satisfaction, and overall general health. The mean age of the study patients was 47.5 ± 13.8 years and the mean duration of dialysis was 77.2 ± 75.5 months. The QoL scores were 45.8 ± 17.1 for general health, 53.1 ± 32.0 for physical QoL, 50.5 ± 14.8 for emotional QoL, 54.9 ± 18.1 for social QoL, 46.5 ± 13.7 for illness impact, and 45.9 ± 12.2 for the medical and financial domain. The total QoL score was 49.5 ± 13.7. The male patients had statistically significantly reduced QoL and younger patients had better QoL scores. The QoL scores revealed a decreasing trend with decreasing level of education; they were elevated among employed patients. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age, dialysis duration, and male sex were negative predictors of QoL score. We conclude from our study that QoL is reduced in all the health domains of HD patients. Older age, male gender, unemployment, and duration of dialysis adversely affected the QoL scores. Adequate management of some of these factors could influence patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESQuality of life (QoL) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is an important outcome for both physicians and patients in selecting dialysis modality. We conducted a comparison between regular maintenance hemodiaylsis and regular peritoneal dialysis patients in two tertiary referral hospitals in King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. We hypothesize that there might be cultural and socioeconomic factors modifying QoL in dialysis patients.DESIGN AND SETTINGCross-sectional study on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.PATIENTS AND METHODSTwo hundred dialysis patients participated in the study, one hundred in each group of dialysis modality, from July 2007 to July 2008. We used a cross-sectional design and collected the date using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQoL SF) questionnaire.RESULTSPatients in both groups had similar sociodemographic characteristics (age, marital status, and education). Mean age (SD) in the hemodialysis group was 47.5 (13.8) years and 51.0 (13.5) years in the peritoneal dialysis group. Males represented 53% and 43%, respectively. Mean duration of dialysis was 77.2 (75.5) months in the hemodialysis group and 34.1 (26.9) months in the peritoneal dialysis group. The mean (SD) score was 49.5 (13.7) in the hemodialysis group and 61.3 (12.4) in the peritoneal dialysis group. QoL mean scores were significantly higher among peritoneal dialysis in all domains and in the total QoL, with the exception of the score of physical QoL, which was higher in the hemodialysis patients, compared to peritoneal dialysis patients, although the difference was not statistically significant. Multiple regression analysis indicated that hemodialysis was a negative predictor of QoL score, compared to peritoneal dialysis. Also, age, male gender, and dialysis duration were negative predictors of QoL score.CONCLUSIONIn the unique culture of Saudi Arabia, peritoneal dialysis patients have better QoL, compared to hemodialysis patients, validating the findings of research reports from other countries.

Intensive care units (ICUs) provide lifesaving care for the critically ill patients and are associated with significant risks. Moreover complexity of care within ICUs requires that the health care professionals exhibit a trans-disciplinary level of competency to improve patient safety. This study aimed at using staff development strategies through implementing patient safety educational program that may minimize the medical errors and improve patient outcome in hospital. The study was carried out using a quasi experimental design. The settings included the intensive care units at General Mohail Hospital and National Mohail Hospital, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted from March to June 2012. A convenience sample of all prevalent nurses at three shifts in the aforementioned settings during the study period was recruited. The program was implemented on 50 staff nurses in different ICUs. Their age ranged between 25-40 years. Statistically significant relation was revealed between safety climate and job satisfaction among nurses in the study sample (p=0.001). The years of experiences in ICU ranged between one year 11 (16.4) to 10 years 20 (29.8), most of them (68%) were working in variable shift, while 32% were day shift only. Improvements were observed in safety climate, teamwork climate, and nurse turnover rates on ICUs after implementing a safety program. On the heels of this improvement; nurses’ total knowledge, skills and attitude were enhanced regarding patient safety dimensions. Continuous educational program for ICUs nursing staff through organized in-service training is needed to increase their knowledge and skills about the importance of improving patient safety measure. Emphasizing on effective collaborative system also will improve patient safety measures in ICUS.

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