Gallery Presentation International Positive Psychology Association 7th IPPA World Congress 2021

From Perceived Affliction to realized opportunity: Transformation of Hemodialysis(HD) experience in Pakistan  (#321)

Haseeba Shouket 1 , Eyal Gringart 1 , Dierdre Drake 1 , Ulrich STEINWANDEL 1
  1. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Australia

Kidney failure leading to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a growing challenge with more than 2 Million sufferers worldwide. Most ESRD patients undergo maintenance hemodialysis (HD), which is a type of renal replacement therapy, for their survival. HD is the preferred treatment by the majority of ESRD patients in Pakistan (Jha, 2013). HD is commonly performed in-centre for three to five hours each session, three times weekly. During the HD treatment, each ESRD patient is connected to a machine, and these sessions, while vital for survival, are often experienced as disabling, and as a major challenge for ESRD patients (Castro, Caiuby, Draibe, & Canziani, 2003). The current study is developing a psychological intervention aimed at transforming the HD experience from troublesome to positive, which would likely improve the lives of ESRD patients overall. The intervention is couched in positive psychology and is informed by a previous in-depth qualitative investigation with ESRD patients, HD centre’s staff, nephrologists and other experts, as well as relevant current literature. The psychological intervention for HD patients seeks to include psychoeducation, positive psychological techniques, social support, and religious coping. This transformational psychological intervention could bring a positive change to the lives of ESRD patients undergoing lifelong HD, beyond the usual focus on coping strategies and distraction. Considering that millions of people are undergoing HD, the contribution of the proposed study could be significant to both practice and the body of knowledge

  1. Jha, V. (2013). Current status of end-stage renal disease care in India and Pakistan. Kidney international supplements, 3(2), 157-160. Castro, M. d., Caiuby, A. V. S., Draibe, S. A., & Canziani, M. E. F. (2003). Qualidade de vida de pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica em hemodiálise avaliada através do instrumento genérico SF-36. Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras.(1992), 49(3), 245-249.
  • Keywords: Positive emotions, Psychotherapy
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