Caring for parents with end-stage renal disease: What do adult children face and how do they cope?

Aim: This study aimed to explore the stressors and coping strategies of adult children who care for their parents with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing in-centre haemodialysis.

Background: Given the growing number of older patients with ESRD, adult children are increasingly providing more care and assistance to their parents with this condition. However, little is still known about the experiences of caring for a parent undergoing haemodialysis.

Design: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines.

Methods: Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with nineteen adult children (44.9 ± 11.7 years old) were carried out. Data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.

Results: Four stressors (managing disease and treatment-related requirements, patients' reaction to treatment, lack of support from family members, and additional challenges to personal and family life) and five coping strategies (active coping and planning, seeking social support for emotional use, accepting the situation as it is, venting emotions, and maintaining interests outside caring) were identified.

Conclusion: Caring for a parent undergoing haemodialysis is an experience with several challenges, marked by educational needs, emotional distress, lack of support from close relatives and the need to manage multiple responsibilities.

Relevance To Clinical Practice: Findings highlight the importance of developing interdisciplinary educational and supportive interventions to support this group of caregivers. These interventions should facilitate access to disease and treatment-related information, provide emotional support, and train coping skills to prevent burden and promote healthy adjustment to the demands of ESRD care.