Disclosure of diagnosis and prognosis of end-stage renal disease: perspectives of nurses.

Abstract

Background: End-stage renal disease presents complex ethical and communication challenges for healthcare professionals, particularly in low-resource settings where nurses play a central role in supporting patients.

Aims: To explore the perspectives of nurses on the disclosure of diagnosis and prognosis of end-stage renal disease in a Ghanaian teaching hospital.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among 15 nurses at Tamale Teaching Hospital using semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed thematically using conventional content analysis.

Findings: Three main themes emerged: ethical and professional responsibilities, communication practices, and challenges and systemic influences. Nurses reported how they faced dilemmas caring for patients, balancing honesty with not wanting to worry patients, conflicts between patient autonomy and family wishes, inadequate training and cultural stigma.

Conclusions: Nurses play a pivotal, yet unsupported, role, in end-stage renal disease disclosure. Context-specific training and ethical frameworks are needed to empower nurses in navigating these complex interactions effectively.