Abstract:
The purpose of this descriptive research was to study experience, management
strategies and outcomes of fatigue in hemodialysis patients by employing the conceptual
framework of symptom management of Dodd et.al. The sample group consisted of 130
hemodialysis patients at the Hemodialysis Unit, Kidney Foundation of Thailand,
GalyaniVadtana Building, Priests Hospital. Questionnaires were the instruments of data
collection in this study. Data were analyzed using the computer statistical package
program. Descriptive ststistics were used to present the result, and test correlation by
Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation.
The research data showed that the mean age of the sample was 46.82 years and
62.3% most were female. The sample perceived fatigue as weakness (55.4%), burden of
work (53.1%). The sample evaluated fatigue as moderately severe (35.4%), and torture
(31.5%).The sample response of fatigue were physical exhaustion (65.4%), moderate
endurance to any situation (40.8%), and moderate stress (38.5%). It affected intelligence
which decreased creativity (44.6%), and poor memory in moderate level (43.8%).
Fatigue was caused by physical factors as insufficient sleep (69.2%), complications
during hemodialysis (66.9%), and by psychological factors as stress and anxiety (50.2%).
The most usual forms of symptom management were napping (80%), followed by sleep
(63.8%) and exercise (62.3%). The fatigue outcome after management were better in
moderate level (56.2%). Yoga and meditation assisted alleviating much fatigue. As the
result of correlation, older patients gained more subjective fatigue experience with
statistic level of significance ( p < .01). Patients with high education have more choices
of symptom management with statistic level of significance ( p < .01), and more fatigue
management and are better able to select which effective fatigue management strategies.
This research result suggests guidelines for nursing intervention for the prevention
and management of fatigue symptoms in hemodialysis patients. It also demonstrates the
need for further symptom management research