Abstract
Chronic kidney disease, also referred to as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is a prevalent and chronic condition for which treatment is necessary as a means of survival once affected individuals reach the fifth and final stage of the disease. Dialysis is a form of maintenance treatment that aids with kidney functioning once a normal kidney is damaged. There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Each form of treatment is discussed between the patient and nephrologist and is largely dependent upon the following factors: medical condition, ability to administer treatment, supports, geographical location, access to necessary equipment/supplies, personal wishes, etc. For Indigenous Peoples who reside on remote Canadian First Nation communities, relocation is often recommended due to geographical location and limited access to both health care professionals and necessary equipment/supplies (i.e., quality of water, access to electricity/plumbing, etc.). Consequently, the objective of this paper is to determine the psychosocial and somatic effects for Indigenous Peoples with ESRD if they have to relocate from remote First Nation communities to an urban centre. A review of the literature suggests that relocation to urban centres has negative implications that are worth noting: cultural isolation, alienation from family and friends, somatic issues, psychosocial issues, loss of independence and role adjustment. As a result of relocation, it is evident that the impact is profound in terms of an individuals’ mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. Ensuring that adequate social support and education are available to patients and families would aid in alleviating stressors associated with managing chronic kidney disease.
Highlights
According to The Kidney Foundation of Canada [1], approximately 1 in 10 Canadians have kidney disease and millions more are at risk
Ensuring that adequate social support and education are available to patients and families would aid in alleviating stressors associated with managing chronic kidney disease
Since the objective of this paper was to examine the effects of relocation on Indigenous peoples with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), it would be pertinent to generalize the study amongst non-Indigenous peoples who reside in rural locations as well [6]
Summary
According to The Kidney Foundation of Canada [1], approximately 1 in 10 Canadians have kidney disease and millions more are at risk. The number of individuals living with kidney disease has increased 37% since 2007 and approximately 48,000 Canadians are receiving treatment for kidney failure [1]. Statistics demonstrate that between the years 1980 and 2000, the number of Indigenous peoples receiving dialysis increased 8-fold [5,8]. Indigenous Peoples are four times more likely to experience end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than non-Indigenous. According to Sood and colleagues, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada experience “a high burden of illness, low socio-economic status and geographic isolation” According to Sood and colleagues, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada experience “a high burden of illness, low socio-economic status and geographic isolation” ([10], p. 1433)
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