About the project
In this PhD project, we examine how person-centred principles are applied in a haemodialysis context, and overhydration is assessed and managed in current practice. Together with patients and nurses, we are developing a model for prevention of overhydration based on person-centred care and existing technological methods.
In advanced kidney failure, the kidneys can no longer sustain vital functions, making patients reliant on haemodialysis to remove excess fluid and waste products. Overhydration in this patient group poses a serious health risk. Despite haemodialysis care being supported by technological tools for fluid assessment, overhydration among patients remains a persistent challenge. This suggests that variations in clinical routines and how objective assessment methods are applied may not sufficiently support nurses in managing the complexity of patients’ fluid status in everyday practice.
Patients undergoing haemodialysis live with complex and fluctuating symptom profiles, where clinical markers alone often do not provide an adequate basis for assessing fluid status. Patients own experiences of symptoms and daily variations constitute an important part og the decision-making foundation in fluid management. Integrating these perspectives is central to person-centred care, which emphasises partnership, shared understanding, and individual preferences as a basis for clinical decision-making.
There is a need to investigate new approaches that enable nurses to combine existing objective assessment methods with principles of person-centred care to support more accurate fluid assessment and ultrafiltration decisions.
The aim is to develop a person-centred model that supports assessment and management of overhydration in haemodialysis practice, based on an iterative mixed-methods approach integrating qualitative, quantitative and observational data.
Data are collected within the specialist health services in Northern Norway. Observations and interviews with nurses in haemodialysis units are conducted to investigate current practices for assessing overhydration and to explore the role of person-centred care in this work.
Patients are invited to complete a questionnaire to provide insight into their perspectives on person-centred care in a haemodialysis context.
The model is developed through workshops with patients and nurses, where findings from observations, interviews, and questionnaires inform different elements of the development process.
The results from the project may contribute to improving current practice and provide the foundation for a model that can be tested and further refined.
The project is conducted in collaboration with Nordland Hospital Trust.
The project is funded by the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Nord RHF) and has a duration of three years (01.09.2025–31.08.2028).
Are you a patient or a nurse and would like to take part in the project?
Please contact PhD candidate Sofie Hartvigsen by email: sofie.g.hartvigsen@nord.no
