Counselling found to improve dialysis outcome

Thiruvananthapuram: The deployment of counsellors in dialysis units can make a significant difference in the lives of hundreds of patients undergoing dialysis in the state. According to a study conducted by Dr Rohini T, Professor Samaritan College of Nursing Pazhanganad, the patients undergoing dialysis are facing a host of emotional and psychological issues.  While the physical, renal parameters, blood investigations, creatinine monitoring and urea level are looked into by the doctors, the psycho social aspects are not looked at all, she added.

Many patients believe they have become unproductive, a burden on the family, they are living just for dialysis. They feel speaking about within the family would only add to their burden. After each dialysis session they come back tired and before they recover, it is time for the next round. So the life is just shuttling between house to dialysis unit and back. The study found that a trained counsellor can make a difference to their lives by giving cognitive behavioural therapy.  A minimum of four sittings of 25 to 30 minute duration each are needed for the patients to open up. In most cases the patients open up in the second session itself and share their problems.

Lack of employment opportunity especially for young patients is one of the major problems. “Since they have to undergo dialysis twice or thrice a week, not many people are ready to give them jobs. Through counselling, some of the patients were initiated into small scale self-employment like running stalls and lottery sale.  Such activities keep them busy and also adds meaning to life,” she said.

“Counselling for dialysis patient is quite effective. Considering the huge number of patients coming for dialysis, it is not possible for doctors to spend time for counselling. This is where the trained counsellors can step in. The results of the study were very encouraging,” said Dr. N. Vijayakumar, Medical Officer in charge, Regional Community Dialysis Centre & Regional Blood Transfusion Centre, District Hospital, Aluva. Experts say the government needs to look at the proposal of attaching trained counsellors with dialysis centres to give a fresh lease of life to patients with end stage renal diseases.