Needs Assessment for Patients Undergoing Plasmapheresis: Suggested Guidelines

Abstract

Background: Plasmapheresis is a procedure carried out for various life-threatening and debilitating diseases as a principal mode of treatment or as an adjunct with other therapies. It is a process involving extracorporeal removal of plasma from other components of blood, discarding and replacing plasma with physiological fluids. Aim: The present study was conducted to assess needs for the patients undergoing plasmapheresis and develop suggested guidelines. Research design: A descriptive exploratory design.Setting: The study was conducted in hemodialysis unit at urology and nephrology center and hemodialysis unit affiliated to Mansoura university hospitals. Methods: A purposive sample of 108 patients undergoing plasmapheresis that met the following selective criteria, from both genders, adult focal segmental glomerulosclerosis patients prepare for renal transplantation, adult patients after renal transplantation rejection, patients suffer from immunological disorder (systemic lupus) and patients undergoing plasmapheresis and agree to participate in the study. Results: Majority of studied patients had unsatisfactory level of overall knowledge needs of patients undergoing plasmapheresis. More than one third of patients were partially physically dependent and about one third of them were minimally physically dependent. Regarding psychological needs, Most of the patients under the study had anxiety level while the majority of the studied patients suffer from borderline depression. Regarding social needs the current study revealed that about more than one third of studied patients were very socially dependent. Conclusion:The highest dependence needs were anxiety followed by knowledge needs, depression, total physically dependent lastly totally socially dependent. Also, there wasn't a statistically significant relationship between knowledge needs and their educational level and occupation among the studied patients. There was a statistically significant relationship between physical needs and age. Recommendations: Providing of simple booklet written in Arabic language for all plasmapheresis units to improve patients' knowledge level & Psychosocial counseling should be provided by specialist for them to facilitate dealing with anxiety and depression and improve their mental health and social dependance.