The Experiences of a Complex Arts-Based Intervention for Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease Whilst Receiving Haemodialysis: A Qualitative Process Evaluation

Abstract

The global prevalence and burden of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is increasing, partially as a result of an aging population. Patients with ESKD who receive haemodialysis experience a difficult, protracted treatment regimen that can negatively impact mental health and wellbeing. One way of addressing this issue could be through the provision of arts-based interventions during haemodialysis treatment. A process evaluation was conducted as part of a larger feasibility study, to explore experiences and acceptability of an intra-dialytic (during haemodialysis) arts-based intervention. Thirteen patients and nine healthcare professionals were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Three themes related to the experience of art on dialysis included: the perception of art participation, as patients described initial anxiety around participating in art, which reduced after they experienced the intervention; the benefits of art participation on both patients and healthcare professionals; the benefits including improved self-esteem, motivation, increased social interaction and an overall improved haemodialysis experience; and the acceptability of the arts-based intervention, as the intervention was highly acceptable, even when delivered by a facilitator who was not a professional artist. This study highlights that arts-based interventions could be used to improve the mental health and wellbeing of patients with ESKD receiving haemodialysis.

Musical Breaks—Live Music in a Hemodialysis Setting—A Qualitative Study on Patient, Nurse, and Musician Perspectives

“…It is potentially a way to manage a stressful work environment, as well as creating shared experiences and pathways of communication with the patients. Our results are in line with Carswell et al, showing that individual art-based interventions improve well-being among nurses working in an HD unit [ 10 , 50 ].…”

“…While previous evidence suggests that this musical self-contraction might be a resource for patients whose self-perception of identity is challenged, for instance, when they are diagnosed with cancer [ 40 , 48 , 49 ], our data suggest that this might also be a resource for patients on HD who listen to live music during treatment. Art-based interventions for patients on HD have also been found to improve self-esteem and motivation, increase social interaction, and improve the overall HD experience [ 50 ].…”

The art of improving the haemodialysis experience

“…The experience of participating in the arts is associated with an altered perception of time, a phenomenon called ‘flow’. The arts can also address some other more nebulous issues around the adjustment to long‐term haemodialysis, for example by providing people with a sense of purpose and motivation, a sense of identity separate to their disease and by facilitating open communication with other patients and healthcare professionals (Carswell et al, 2021).…”