PATIENT EXPERIENCE OF DIALYSIS REFUSAL OR WITHDRAWAL—A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

  1. Helen Noble BSc, DMS1,
  2. Julienne Meyer PhD, MSc, BSc, RN1,
  3. Jackie Bridges PhD, MSN, BNurs, RN1,
  4. Daniel Kelly PhD, MSc, BSc, RN2,
  5. Barbara Johnson PhD1,
  6. DipCommNurs, SRN, HV1

Article first published online: 22 MAY 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-6686.2008.00017.x

Issue

Journal of Renal Care

Journal of Renal Care

Volume 34, Issue 2, pages 94–100, June 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Noble, H., Meyer, J., Bridges, J., Kelly, D., Johnson, B. and DipCommNurs, SRN, HV (2008), PATIENT EXPERIENCE OF DIALYSIS REFUSAL OR WITHDRAWAL—A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Journal of Renal Care, 34: 94–100. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-6686.2008.00017.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Health Science, City University, London, UK

  2. 2

    Faculty of Health and Social Science, Middlesex University, London, UK

*CORRESPONDENCE Helen Noble City University, Institute of Health Science, St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, Philpot Street, London, E1 2EA, UK Tel.: +02073777092; Fax: +02023777086 H.R.Noble@city.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 MAY 2008
  2. Article first published online: 22 MAY 2008

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Keywords:

  • Abatement;
  • Decision;
  • End of life;
  • Palliative care;
  • Supportive Care;
  • Withdrawal

SUMMARY

Aim. The aim of this literature review was to advance understanding of dialysis refusal and withdrawal in relation to the experiences of patients and carers and to explore the trajectory to death of those abating dialysis.

Method. Databases searched included CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, British Nursing Index, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, ASSIA and Cancerlit. Forty-four quantitative papers and two qualitative papers were identified.

Findings. The patient and carer experience is rarely explored in the literature but issues related to ‘Making decisions to withhold/forego or withdraw treatment’, ‘Length of survival without dialysis’, Prevalence of symptoms in end-stage renal disease’, ‘The utilisation of Advance Directives’ and ‘The impact on families’ throw some light on the phenomena of dialysis refusal and withdrawal.

Conclusions. Little is known about those patients who withdraw from or decide not to commence dialysis. Empirical studies related to those who opt not to embark on dialysis are limited to four worldwide. There is an urgent need for further research to determine the experiences and needs of this population and a more patient-centred approach is required, consistent with modern palliative medicine.

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