PERCEIVED ILLNESS INTRUSION AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PATIENTS ONHEMODIALYSIS IN ATERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background/Purpose: Dialysis is a medical procedure that is very nerve-wracking as it interferes with the day-to-day activities of the patients suffering from kidney disease. Our study is aimed at finding the association between illness intrusion among patients on dialysis, the effect of duration of dialysis, and patient demographics. Materials/Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 Chronic Kidney Disease patients who were on maintenance hemodialysis in RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital, tertiary care center in Bangalore, Karnataka for a period of two months. The patients were interviewed using a pre-tested and semi-structured interview schedule. Data was entered and analysed using Tableau software. The results were visualized in percentages and proportions. Results: Out of 60 patients, 42 patients were males and 95% of total patients were married. 61.7% were from urban areas and the majority (81.7%) of the patients funded their dialysis through their own/family income and 75% reported an intrusion in the area of work. Conclusion: A high percentage of people were from urban areas and very few from rural areas. Therefore, setting up Nephrology units in government hospitals would reduce the economic burden on the patient. Categories: Nephrology, Epidemiology/Public Health.