Patients’ and health professionals’ perspectives on transforming the burden of haemodialysis (HD) treatment to an opportunity: an in-depth qualitative investigation

Most patients with End Stage Kidney Failure (ESKF) in Pakistan must undergo maintenance haemodialysis (HD) to survive. Session duration and the often lifelong nature of this treatment, along with other factors associated with HD, make it difficult to tolerate. This study took a positive psychological perspective and considered that HD sessions' duration, which has been a major challenge for HD patients, can be turned to an opportunity for patients' meaningful engagement. Such meaningful engagement can positively transform Pakistani patients' experience of HD and extend into their lives outside HD. Twenty-four HD patients and six healthcare professionals were interviewed to explore the potential to transform the HD experience. Interview data were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Data analysis indicated that HD session duration was a significant and common challenge or all patients. Nevertheless, HD patients identified strategies such as psychoeducation, positive psychology, spiritual strategies, and social support as having the potential to positively affect the overall HD experience. The strategies identified in the study could be integrated in a psychological intervention to be implemented during regular HD sessions and potentially positively transform the experience of HD for Pakistani patients and improve their lives overall.