COPING IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an irreversible disease with physiological, psychological and psychosocial challenges, especially for young people.

Objectives: The objective of this phenomenological study was to identify coping strategies in two groups of young people aged 12-18 years. In one group, the young people were healthy and in the other group, the young people had stage 4-5 CKD.

Design: Young people with CKD (stages 4-5) (n = 7) (mean age = 11.5 yrs.) and young healthy people (n = 7) (mean age = 14 yrs.) were recruited from a Children's Hospital and Youth Club respectively, and were invited to take part in one face-to-face, semi-structured interview.

Findings: Data analysis showed 11 different coping themes.

Conclusion: It can be concluded from the interviews that young healthy people and those with CKD alike, utilise a range of coping strategies. The themes derived can prompt researchers to potentially develop a coping measure for a young CKD population. However, a longitudinal study would help to recognise coping strategies young people adopt over time and provide a pathway for the development of a formal coping framework.