Training and reinforcement of competencies in chronic kidney disease hemodialysis patients - The Program “Believe+ and keep going“: Preliminary results

• Autor(a) principal: Freitas Olim, Marta
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Carrasco, Luis, Pimenta, Joana, Silva, Filipa, Torres, Susana, Dantas, Joana
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.7342/ismt.rpics.2017.3.2.56
• topic: Social Works with Groups; Chronic Kidney Disease; Hemodialysis; Occupation; Serviço Social de Grupos; Doença Renal Crónica; Hemodiálise; Ocupação

Background & Objective: This study presents preliminary results and describes the structure of a training and skills development project, based on a group Social Service methodology and on the needs of chronic kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The goal was to promote the acceptance of the disease and its related treatment, in a positive way, and the promotion of healthy living habits with a favorable impact on life project, namely in the current state of their occupation. Participants: Thirty people participated voluntarily (16 men and 14 women), aged 26 years and 77 years (M = 49.6; SD ± 14.88), without any type of occupation. Procedures: There were 4 editions in different regions of Portugal. Each edition had a heterogeneous group of 7-10 chronic kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment at a given outpatient clinic. Each edition included 6 sessions, twice a week. It was assessed both the level of participation and adherence to the project throughout the sessions, as well as the effectiveness of changing the post-project occupational situation. To measure these variables, it was monitored the adherence to the occupational response at baseline, and during a period of one year. Results: At the end of this preliminary phase of the project, 50% of participants integrated occupational response. There was a total adherence of the participants to the sessions in an active and continuous way, and there were no withdrawals. Training was the occupational response with the largest number of adherence, about 27% of the participants, when compared to the other alternatives such as employment, volunteering, or structured and frequent physical activity. Conclusion: This project emphasizes occupation as a primary factor in the clinical rehabilitation and social reintegration of this population in the society, with clear psychosocial benefits for the participants and introducing new challenges to the practice of Social Work.