Assessment-based group counseling to address concerns of chronic hemodialysis patients

A Dialysis Patient Concerns Inventory (DPCI) was administered to 15 chronic hemodialysis outpatients by their nurses to assess concerns related to being a hemodialysis patient. This direct information from patients rather than experts in the field was used to construct a group counseling program to address these and other concerns later acknowledged by patients once group counseling began. Components of the counseling program, how the program was implemented, its effects, and factors important in effective program implementation with nurse involvement are discussed. It was concluded that it is important for nurses to play key roles in group counseling to address patients' concerns. It is also important for such counseling to be based on structured assessment of specific concerns reported from patients. Furthermore, it was concluded that group counseling should be planned and executed in ways that actively involve patients and that allow patients to participate for skill development and for life enhancement, rather than to get help with personal problems--a motivator that is often stigmatized.