Psychological Wellbeing of Hemodialysis Patients: Lessons Learned & Limitations to Survey-based Research for Chronically Ill Populations

Poor psychological wellbeing can directly impact physical health with studies showing its contribution to the incidence and progression of chronic illnesses. Future research is needed to understand the experiences and psychological wellbeing of persons with chronic illness, such as those undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, conducting this research is not without challenges, particularly when using survey-based research and assessment, as has historically been the case. This presentation will discuss specific limitations to using survey-based research with chronically ill populations. These limitations were identified during a pilot study conducted with HD patients undergoing treatment at a Dialysis Clinic Inc. unit in Albany, New York. Specific limitations of using survey research to understand chronically ill populations will be discussed, including survey fatigue, outdated survey terminology, barriers due to physical abilities, and biases that impact participants who choose to complete surveys. Due to these obstacles, surveys may not be an accurate representation of the wellbeing of patients with chronic illnesses. This research aims to reevaluate the role of survey research in healthcare settings and explore potential solutions.