Recuperation Support Utilizing the Concept of Concordance for Pre-dialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Using Action Research

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe and consider the process of changes that occurred in nurses’ perceptions and practice of patient education through two sessions: a debriefing session on the recovery experience of patients with chronic kidney disease and a study session on the concept of concordance.

Methods: This study was conducted based on action research between May 2018 and March 2020. After conducting a debriefing session and a study session for the ward nurses, we interviewed four nurses two times. The contents of the interviews were analyzed qualitatively.

Results: The nurses said that the debriefing and study sessions clarified the current problems in patient education, and they were able to reconsider the perspectives of patient education. The nurses “realized that unilateral patient education was a problem,” so they “tried to have the patients speak in their own words.” Because nurses “tried to listen to the patients without preconceptions and with awareness of the patients’ own situations,” changes in practice such as “discussing alternatives that fit the patients’ life” were observed.

Conclusion: Our study suggested that learning about the patient’s recuperation experience and being aware of the concordance concept are effective in conducting recuperation assistance for behavior change in patients.