Perspectives of significant others in dialysis modality decision-making: a qualitative study

To explore the experience of the dialysis modality decision-making process from the perspective of the significant other.

A qualitative interpretive description study was conducted using the Interprofessional Shared Decision Making Model (Légaré et al., 2011). Data collection included one-on-one, semi-structured interviews, the Decisional Regret Scale, and the SURE tool.

Ten significant others were interviewed. They included wives, husbands, and daughters of dialysis patients. Their roles involved providing a positive outlook, "being with", advocating, caregiving, learning together, sharing opinions, and communicating values, preferences and treatment feasibility. Broader factors influencing significant others included choosing life, unanticipated life change, and personal health problems. Implementation of the chosen modality resulted in unanticipated events, relationship changes and challenges to travelling.

Significant others play supportive roles for dialysis patients and are involved in the decision-making process associated with treatment decisions. Significant others may have concurrent emotional, informational, and physical needs that affect their role in making and/or implementing the decision.