Renal Disease, Dialysis, and Sleep Deprivation

Abstract

Renal disease was the ninth leading cause of death in 2004 taking the lives of 42,480 Americans (CDC, 2004), and 500,000 people are receiving dialysis (Wrobel, 2007). Renal disease is a serious problem in the United States and will continue to get worse as rates for hypertension and diabetes increase. Individuals on dialysis have a difficult time falling asleep, staying asleep, and reaching rapid eye movement while sleeping. The purpose of this honors thesis was to explore and better understand renal disease, dialysis, and sleep deprivation. Audio-taped interviews were done with one man and one woman who were currently undergoing dialysis and had sleep deprivation. Phenomenology was the method selected with a goal of understanding the meaning of a lived experience of renal disease, dialysis, and its impact on sleep disturbances. Volunteers were recruited from the community, informed consent obtained, and meeting time established. Data was analyzed using Giorgi’s method. Data analysis revealed the following themes: Keeping Busy, Quieting the Mind, Losing Independence, Restricting Diet, Restricting Fluid and Interrupting Sleep Patterns. Results of this study cannot be generalized; however the findings allow nurses to better understand the lived experience of persons with sleep deprivation in renal failure.