Abstract
The introduction of hemodialysis treatment forces patients to make drastic change in their life styles and self-image. This is especially true for adolescents who are still in the process of growing up and have defficulty of adapting to those drastic changes.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of nursing for the patients to establish their independence and adapt to dialysis therapy. One adolescent patient on dialysis treatment experiencing difficulties in self-care and social rehabilitation was selected and interviewed in a manner of supporting his emotional expressions by a nurse interviewer.
Interactions occured in the interviews were analyzed, which resulted the adolescent patient to establish his independence while the patient-nurse relationship was maintained, and to discuss his problems frankly with the nurse interviewer. It was found that the patient's adherence to the memory of the past himself with physical abilities had caused his self-image affected. It was clear that creating an atmosphere in which the patient could talk freely about his own problems such as his physical difficulties was particularly important in order for him to restore his self-respect and dignity and establish his independence.
