Playful activities in haemodialisis units

Abstract

This paper aimed at knowing the influence of playful activities on the treatment of patients with Terminal Chronic Renal Failure during hemodialysis. A qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews, was used. The study was performed with 16 patients in a hemodialysis unit. A category, defined as the individual ability of understanding their experiences, in a positive or negative way was observed. The following subcategories were developed: positive understanding, defined as the great care showed by patients through the playful activities, such as welfare; negative understanding, such as the indifference shown through the playful activities. The results showed that playful activities had a positive influence on most of the patients’ life, causing feelings of welfare. Even those patients indifferent to playful activities assumed that they enjoyed playing. We believe the results reinforce the nursing necessity of pursuing more humanistic actions in dialysis units