SAT-227 IMPACT OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE ON PATIENTS WORK ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) impacts on several aspects in the patients’ life, including work. Working ability is pointed out as one of the aspects that suffer profound consequences in its continuity, modifying the daily routine of the patient who, although is not completely incapacitated for work activities, often needs to use social benefits or disability retirement. CKD has an incalculable impact in the family structure, especially when it directly affects the main supporter, in addition to the involved psychological aspects. The main objective of this study is to investigate the perceptions of CKD patients on hemodialysis and renal transplanted patients on the limitations imposed by the treatment in their professional activities. A qualitative study was carried out in a dialysis clinic (Rim Centro), with hemodialysis patients, and in the Fortaleza General Hospital with renal transplanted patients, both institutions in the metropolitan area of Fortaleza, northeast of Brazil. Data collection was performed through semi-structured interviews, accompanied by audio records, applied individually, in the period prior to medical routine visits, from May to October 2017. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and then organized and analyzed according to the content analysis, in the thematic modality, expressed by Bardin. Based on the analysis of the reports, four thematic axes arose, acting as guides for the classification systems (sense nuclei) during data processing. Through the patients’ speech, thematic axis and sense nuclei (SN) emerged. There were four themes of analysis: Diagnosis and access trajectory to treatment, with two SN: changes on daily life after CKD diagnosis and access to treatment; limitations on daily and non-work activities, SN: the stigma of CKD and repercussions of CKD treatment; Changes related to work and family support, SN: changes to work activities, familiar support in work process and those without work history; and fear and hope of kidney transplant, SN: Hope to new life and fear of transplantation risks. Patients discuss about the repercussions of CKD in their lives and explain how this disease changed the perspectives about their familiar and social participation. Many individuals lost their jobs while on hemodialysis, and after transplantation they face many difficulties in returning to work activities. Others retired during hemodialysis and after transplantation they started to carry out informal works. In this study, we can observe the high burden of CKD in many areas of patient lives, including work activities. There is still a need to improve the social services of care for people with CKD with regard to mental health and work support with effective actions reinsertion to work, mainly after transplantation for those who wish to have a job.