Investigating the effect of hemodialysis on family dynamics: a qualitative study

This study sought to conduct a qualitative analysis of the changes caused by hemodialysis in families and their effects on family dynamics.

A qualitative research design was employed. From May to July 2025, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 patients receiving hemodialysis treatment at a hospital in the Central Anatolian region of Türkiye to collect data. Purposeful sampling was used. A thematic analysis was conducted that used a hybrid analytic framework, comprising deductive codes taken from the family systems literature, combined with inductive codes from the field.

Six main themes were identified. These were: T1, intra-family solidarity and closeness; T2, redistribution of roles and caregiving burden; T3, fatigue-rest cycle; T4, dialysis-centered routine; T5, threshold between emotional continuity and practical/material support; T6, faith- and submission-based acceptance, long-term adaptation, and "normalization." These themes suggested increased household coordination, yet also pointed to the need for reorganizing timing and logistical routines. The T3 theme was more dominant among new hemodialysis patients, while T6 was more prominent among long-term hemodialysis patients.

Through the formation of solidarity, redistribution of roles, and management of time around dialysis, hemodialysis restructures family functioning. The discourse of faith and acceptance helps to regulate emotions. The results emphasize the need for family-centered planning and the integration of periods of rest in everyday life, and for strengthening arrangements for transportation and logistics.