title: Understanding and affirming the sexual/relationship realities of end-stage renal disease patients and their significant others.
abstract: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) frequently occurs within the social context of relationships and has many predictable consequences in the experience of patients and their significant others. Relationship and sexual issues and concerns must be assessed early in the treatment process and be continually attended to as patients seek new levels of coping. Sex-role conflicts, changes in sexual functioning and sexual self-esteem, challenges to both physical and emotional intimacy, and the life-altering consequences of chronic illness are all very real for ESRD patients. If a holistic perspective on the health care needs of ESRD patients is to be a reality, it will contain a concern for, active attention to, and involvement in the relationship/sexual dimension of life.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dailey
mesh_terms: D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012380:Role; D019529:Sexuality