Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Advance Health Care Directive Registration

Advance healthcare directives planning entails the development of an understanding, reflection and communication process among patients, family members and healthcare team to accurately clarify patients’ preferences and identify surrogates, especially in end-of-life scenarios. The purpose of this study was to analyse the perceptions of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis at Hospital Abraham Godoy Peña de Lautaro regarding the intention to register their advance healthcare directive. A phenomenological approach was applied to understand the meaning of the experiences of the subjects involved. Theoretical sampling was used, and 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were processed using thematic analysis. Patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease undergoing haemodialysis were aware of the importance of advance healthcare directive registration; however, the registration process and should be guided by values-based education techniques. Interviewees prefer therapies aligned with their lifestyles, family impact, psychological comfort, and inclusion, rather than focusing solely on clinical results.