Understanding African-American families' experiences with treatment for kidney failure is necessary for informing the delivery of family-centered care and the design of appropriate interventions. This qualitative study explored treatment-related questions, concerns, and family impacts among African-American family members of patients with pre-kidney failure and kidney failure. Thirty-five family members participated in focus groups stratified by patients' treatment experiences (pre-kidney failure, in-center hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, awaiting living-donor kidney transplantation, or post-transplantation). Family members raised questions and concerns about the psychological, lifestyle, and practical aspects of treatment. Similarly, discussions about family impacts emphasized psychosocial effects, lifestyle consequences, and the provision and receipt of support. Efforts to address these questions, concerns, and perceived family impacts through additional research, early and tailored education, and supportive interventions are needed.
Keywords: dialysis; living-donor kidney transplantation; positive and negative treatment impacts; treatment concerns; treatment questions.
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