title: The effect of holiday haemodialysis treatments on patient mood, adverse symptoms and subjective wellbeing using the Big Red Kidney Bus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  People with end-stage kidney disease receiving haemodialysis are restricted to holidays where dialysis services are readily available. Holiday dialysis in regional, rural and remote areas is particularly challenging. The aims of this study were to evaluate the wellbeing of those who received dialysis in a holiday haemodialysis bus and to measure patient well-being with that of a comparable cohort of haemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three machine haemodialysis bus, the Big Red Kidney Bus, was built to enable people, their families and carers to take holidays across a range of tourist destinations in Victoria, Australia. Measures included pre-post subjective well-being, dialysis symptoms and mood questionnaires complemented by post semi-structured telephone interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participating holidaymakers were positive about the haemodialysis bus service and the standard of care experienced. They reported decreased dialysis side effects of fatigue, muscle cramp and dry skin. The overall number of reported symptoms decreased, and the perceived level of bother associated with symptoms also decreased. No changes in subjective well-being and mood were detected. Mean Personal Wellbeing Index scores were significantly higher than in a comparative haemodialysis sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Big Red Kidney Bus provided a safe and feasible holiday dialysis service. Holidaymakers' well-being was reflected by the decreased dialysis patient side effects.
authors.affiliation: School of Primary Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Jane Sims and Associates, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.|Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.|Centre for Nursing Research-Deakin University & Monash Health Partnership, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Cherene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ockerby
authors.affiliation: Kidney Health Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ludlow
authors.affiliation: Kidney Health Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fairbairn
authors.affiliation: Kidney Health Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Monash Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria
keywords: end-stage kidney disease; haemodialysis; holiday dialysis; quality of life; subjective well-being