Are Human Needs Fulfilled In Treatment Adherence In Hemodialysis? A Crossover between Social Work and Neurology

¹Social Work Department, Catholic University of Portugal and University of Coimbra, Portugal

²Departments of Psychology and Education Sciences, CEIS20, University of Coimbra, Portugal

*Corresponding author: M J Cabral Sacadura Catholic University of Portugal and University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected]

Citation: M J Cabral Sacadura, et al. (2022). Are Human Needs Fulfilled In Treatment Adherence In Hemodialysis? A Crossover between Social Work and Neurology. Neuro Research.  4(1):11.

Received: April 27, 2022

Published: June 10, 2022

ABSTRACT

Objectives: From a starting point based on a conceptual framework of human needs, adherence to treatment and neurological impairments in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), this article attempt to answer to the question: are human needs fulfilled in adherence to treatment regimen in ESRD? In particular, we want to identify the main human needs in the adherence and non-adherence behavior (absences to a life-sustaining dialysis treatment). Methods: Integrated in a larger PhD Social Work investigation in progress in Portugal, the present exploratory study, concerns a specific qualitative sample of a total of 10 cases recruited from eleven dialysis units in Portugal between October-December 2021. Two groups were made. Three or more absences to dialyses sessions in the year of 2019 were considered non-adherence behavior. The main inclusion criteria were references of patients with neurology impairments and diversity in ages, social status, race, school degree, time on dialyses, geographic dispersion, and dimension of the dialyses units. Results: We have identified some human needs related to biopsychosocial needs in non-adherence group as well as neurological impairments that can interfere with daily routine related to adherence to treatment regimen. Condition-related factors, health care team and system-related factors of adherence were only found in the non-adherent group. Conclusions: The theory of human needs from the systemic theory of social work is relevant to get a better ecological and holistic view in order to improve human needs satisfaction among patients in hemodialysis. From a service user´s perspective, analyzing the absences to treatments requires crossing emotional and familial factors with social and ecological conditions.

Keywords: Social Work, Human Needs, Chronic Kidney Disease, Treatment Adherence, Dialysis, Neurology