Psychological Problems among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a slowly progressive, irreversible deterioration of renal function that results in the kidney's inability to eliminate waste products and maintain fluids and electrolyte balance. Chronic renal failure develops into end stage renal disease (ESRD); this is a medical term for kidney disease that requires dialysis or kidney transplant for a patient to stay alive (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2014). Hemodialysis is the most common therapy or treatment for patients ends stage renal failure. Hemodialysis can take place in the home or more commonly in a dialysis center. Hemodialysis means “to clean the blood” It is the process where the blood is slowly withdrawn from the body through a surgically created vein or a catheter, known as a vascular access site, and circulated through a machine (Black & Bo