Experience of Patients Starting Hemodialysis

Patients starting dialysis have significant and often daunting changes to their lifestyle, and investigators have only little information from the patient perspective on patient experiences during dialysis initiation. To explore patient perspectives when starting dialysis, this study aims to collect information on patient perspectives, understand what made patient experiences better, and what could further improve their experiences when patients first start dialysis. The investigators will enroll patients within 90 days of starting dialysis, and conduct semi-structured recorded interviews with patients. All patients will provide informed consent. The interviews will be transcribed verbatim.

• The transcripts will be reviewed line by line by qualitative researchers to identify concepts and themes, and will be developed into a coding schema.
• The preliminary themes will be discussed among the investigators to facilitate consensus.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients receiving in-center hemodialysis care at Satellite Healthcare at the start of the study period.
• Patients who started with in-center hemodialysis as a first renal replacement therapy.
• Patients receiving dialysis for ≤ 90 days.

Exclusion criteria

• Age < 18 years.
• Unable to understand or communicate in English.
• Inability to participate because of cognitive impairment or active psychological condition.