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The fatigue experience of haemodialysis patients in Taiwan
Article first published online: 11 JAN 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2005.01409.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Lee, B.-O., Lin, C.-C., Chaboyer, W., Chiang, C.-L. and Hung, C.-C. (2007), The fatigue experience of haemodialysis patients in Taiwan. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16: 407–413. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2005.01409.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 11 JAN 2007
- Article first published online: 11 JAN 2007
- Submitted for publication: 7 March 2005 Accepted for publication: 30 August 2005
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- experience;
- fatigue;
- haemodialysis;
- nurses;
- nursing;
- qualitative research
Aims and objectives. To expand the theoretical understanding of fatigue, this study used in-depth interview to explore the fatigue experience from haemodialysis patients’ perspectives.
Background. Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by the people with chronic diseases including those with renal failure requiring haemodialysis.
Methods. Data were collected in a haemodialysis unit of a hospital in South Taiwan. Purposive samples of 14 participants were interviewed in-depth. Colaizzi's methods were used to analyse transcripts of the interviews.
Results. Ten themes were delineated and classified into three domains. The first domain ‘physical fatigue’ consists of four themes: (1) habitual fatigue, (2) experiencing the uraemic symptoms (3) suffering from sleeping disturbance, (4) insufficient physical energy. The second domain ‘affective fatigue’ contains three themes: (5) detesting long-term treatment, (6) perceiving depression (7) and feeling exhausted. The third domain ‘cognitive fatigue’ includes three themes: (8) regretting lost cognition, (9) intentional isolation and (10) coping with fatigue.
Conclusions. The findings identify that fatigue is a multi-dimensional concept. By understanding the various aspects of fatigue, nurses may be better able to plan and provide fatigue-relieving strategies for haemodialysis patients.
Relevance to clinical practice. The results can provide a direction for interventional studies designed to reduce the patients’ fatigue.