Quality of life of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis at benue state university teaching hospital, makurdi: An exploratory qualitative study

Objectives: The study assessed the physical and environmental quality of life (QoL) of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi. Materials and Methods: An exploratory qualitative research design was adopted to conduct research on patients with CKD undergoing HD at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, between October 2024 and May 2025. A researcher developed a semi-structured open-ended interview guide, and audio tapes were used to purposively collect data from 15 consented participants. The data were analyzed using NVivo version 10.0 for descriptive purposes. Results: The data revealed two (2) major themes: perceived body discomfort (body pain, nausea/vomiting, physical fatigue, physical dependence, life, as subthemes) and constraints (restricted lifestyle and barriers to access to HD therapy as subthemes). Conclusion: Although HD is perceived as a hope for CKD patients, the treatment severely compromises their physical and environmental QoL.