Patient's needs in substitutive dialysis treatment. Some psycho-social and organizational considerations

The observations here presented come from an action-research project carried out at the Dialysis Centre of Ivrea. The work is focused on the articulation between subjective (the felt experience) and objective variables (the structure and intervention typology) with the aim of understanding patient's needs from an organizational point of view.

A questionnaire to evaluate the needs of dialytic patients and the burden that these have on the health service and staff, was formulated by the nurses.

The results showed how the patient's clinical history indicate, significantly, not only personal and subjective aspects (e.g. interpersonal relationships), but also how they construct their relationships with the hospital and its services (including the hospital staff).

Data open up certain reflections on what role communication and information play within the hospital structure. Efficient communication contributes both to reduce the anxiety level and to improve the organizational climate therefore influencing service quality.