Intrafamily Identity and Home Dialysis Success

Abstract

The entire family participates in the success of the home dialysis patient. Isolation and study of discrete quantifiable aspects of behavior within the family may allow identification of patients with a greater risk of failure, thus making it possible to help such patients succeed. A single such factor, ‘intrafamily identity’, measured in each of 40 diverse families before one family member began a home dialysis program, was found to correlate with success in the program 1 year later. This finding also may contribute to an understanding of systematic patterns of behavior within all families, with special emphasis upon the ability of family members to cope with continuing stress.

Psychometric assessment of the quality of life index

“…Family relationships was identified as an area important to quality of life by 227 adults with chronic illnesses (Burckhardt, Woods, Schultz, & Ziebarth, 1989). In studies of dialysis patients, investigators have reported that family life has profound influence on patient adjustment, which has been found to be significantly correlated with quality of life (Dimond, 1979;Murphy, 1982;Pentecost, Zwerens, & Manuel, 1976).…”

Treatment Compliance in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Dialysis

“…Compliant as compared to noncompliant HD patients have fewer family problems and receive more assistance from their spouses [7] and have better communication within the family [30], In addition, they report stronger family members' expectations of their compliance [14], less negative illness impact on family function [10], and have higher family functioning in executive and taskoriented roles [19], Positive stalT member evaluation of HD patients and realistic expectations of patient rehabil itation have also been associated with good compliance [3. 14.…”

Putting the Illness in Its Place: Discussion Groups for Families with Chronic Medical Illnesses

“…Yet, despite a growing recognition of the impact of chronic, disabling medical illness on family life (15, 19, 25, 26, 28), and despite a comparable appreciation of the role of the family in the success or failure of adaptation to disabling illnesses (3, 4, 12, 20, 21, 30), there have been remarkably few psychosocial interventions focused on family issues, needs, and stresses during the chronic phase of the illness. Those programs that do exist are designed primarily to provide ongoing education and supportive therapy to the individual patient alone.…”