REVISTA DE NEFROLOGIA DIALISIS Y TRASPLANTE, cilt.42, sa.1, ss.22-40, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
Introduction: Non-compliance with diet and fluid restriction is an important and common health behavior problem in the hemodialysis population and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, investigating the perceptions and experiences of patients undergoing hemodialysis regarding diet and fluid restriction is very important in terms of achieving the management of diet and fluid restriction. Methods: This is a meta-synthesis study. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, and Scopus electronic databases were utilized for the literature review. Studies were critically evaluated using the Joanna Briggs critical appraisal tool. Qualitative data were extracted, meta-summarized, and then meta-synthesized. The thematic analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. Results: This review consisted of 23 qualitative studies. The experiences of patients undergoing hemodialysis about diet and fluid restriction were classified into three main themes, namely, "the meaning of diet and fluid restriction for the patient", "perceived barriers", and "patient's own management strategies for diet and fluid restriction". Conclusion: The results of the synthesis in our study indicated that patients undergoing hemodialysis perceived diet and fluid restriction as a complex and challenging process involving a constant struggle. Some personal, social, and systemic barriers perceived by the patients made compliance with diet and fluid restriction even more difficult. More importantly, it was determined that most of the patients were not supported enough in the management of diet and fluid restriction and that they had developed strategies in their own right. In line with these results, we recommend that individual counseling services for diet-fluid restriction of patients undergoing hemodialysis should be increased, the obstacles perceived by the patient should be considered while planning patients' diet-fluid restriction, and that the planning should be realistic and feasible.