title: Responsiveness of the patient's perception of hemodialysis scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess hemodialysis (HD) patients' physical health, social supports, psychosocial well-being and the interrelationship among patients' experiences, demographics, illness characteristics, and biochemical indicators of health. To determine responsiveness of the Patient's Perception of Hemodialysis Scale (PPHS) to change in health status and critical events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a longitudinal design HD patients (n = 85) were assessed at two time periods. Data analysis included measures of central tendency and tests of difference to assess interrelationships and responsiveness of the PPHS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant changes in PPHS's subscales scores between measurement times or groups based on demographic variables. Significant differences were found in the number of co-morbid illnesses, illness severity, albumin, and urea reduction. The Psychosocial Distress subscale varied significantly in relation to time on HD, reason for admission to hospital, and number of admissions. Physical Health scores were significantly different for subgroups divided by illness, illness severity, number of illnesses, age, albumin and reason for admission. PPHS subscale mean scores were responsive to positive events in the predicted direction most of the time and appeared to have had more of an effect on the PPHS scores than negative critical events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PPHS is responsive to a change in physical health and positive critical events, but results were unsubstantiated for patient's reaction to negative critical events. The PPHS is reliable, valid, and responsive to physical changes and positive critical events. This instrument offers health care professionals a viable method for assessing important factors capable of predicting quality outcomes.
authors.forename: J Creina
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Parfrey
authors.forename: Brendan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.forename: Christine Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Way
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D011792:Quebec; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome