Crianças e adolescents em hemodiálise: atributos associados à qualidade de vida

OBJECTIVE: To identify quality of life impacting attributes related to health of children and adolescents with chronic renal failure,on hemodialysis, as initial step to build the specific module DISABKIDS®.

METHOD: An Exploratory descriptive study, with qualitative approach, with data collected between August of 2011 to March of 2013, through focus group analysis, with 42 participants between 8 and 18 years, their parents and caregivers. The data analysis was conducted following the thematic content, using the program Qualitative Data Analysis Software.

RESULTS: Seven themes were identified:water and food restrictions, limitations imposed by the treatment, time dedicated to treatment, change in body image related to the vascular access and growth,stigma, self-care and hope of kidney transplantation.

CONCLUSION: Relevant aspects to the participants' experience regarding the disease and the treatment were apprehended, trying to understand how this process is associated to quality of life.