Physiological parameters of comfort inpatients undergoing hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: Comfort make patients feel strengthened in an untouchable, personalized sort of way. The whole of nursing care and health care industry revolves around the concept of maximizing the comfort level of the patients. In the present health care system where patients are more demanding, it becomes important to recognize the factors affecting the comfort level of patients.
Objectives: Objectives of the study were to assess the physiological parameters of comfort (vital signs, edema, pain) in patients undergoing hemodialysis,to find out the association between physiological parameters of comfort with sociodemographic and clinical data of hemodialysis patients.
Materials and Methods: A quantitative research approach and exploratory research design was used to assess physiological parameters of comfort in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Total 84 patients were selected by non-probability convenience sampling technique in the research study. Structured questionnaire of sociodemographic and clinical data, Vital signs chart, Pain assessment scale, Edema assessment scale(Tools to assess physiological parameters)were used for assessing the physiological parameters of comfort. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS (version 25).
Results: During assessment of the physiological parameters, 73(86.9%) patients were with abnormal physiological parameters (vital signs, pain, edema) and 11(13%) were with normal physiological parameters of comfort. The most common abnormal physiological parameter found during assessment was pain which was present maximally in 51(60.7%) patients. In association of respiration with sociodemographic variables, gender (χ2=3.584 df=1, P=0.058) and among the clinical variables, position of patients (χ2=8.768, df=3, P=0.033) were significantly associated at 0.05 level of significance. Temperature was significantly associated with clinical variable, weight (χ2=10.141, df=4, P=0.038) and comorbid condition hypertension of patients (χ2=4.245, df=1, P=0.039). Blood pressure was significantly associated with clinical variable like, types of diet (χ2=9.256,df=2, P=0.010), daily intake (χ2=11.048a df=3, P=0.011) and position of patients (χ2=8.678, df=3, P=0.033). Edema was significantly associated with clinical variable types of diet of patients (χ2=7.198, df=2, P=0.02).
Conclusion: - Socio-demographical and clinical variable have a significant effect on physiological parameters of comfort among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Hence, the role of the Nephrology Nurse requires more attention in the implementation of appropriate nursing interventions throughout the dialysis treatment in relation to all the above identified factors.