Sociographic Profile of Hemodialysis Patients in Portugal

Abstract

The study outlines the sociographic profile of patients on hemodialysis treatment in Portugal through a descriptive study of 3114 chronic renal failure patients. The dominant sociographic profile indicates that participants were male (59%), over the age of 65 (52.54%, M = 67.6), married (58.70%), with a low educational level (1st to 4th grade: 53.18%), and retired (77.62%). They were born in Portugal (89.56%), living in Lisbon (51.48%), living with nuclear families with children (46.47%) and had informal support networks (72.22%). Other social indicators point to vulnerable situations: 8.6% were unemployed, 2.5% were living in a precarious housing situation; 10.45% were displaced patients; 11.37% lived alone; 9.18% had single-parent families; and 10.69% did not have any source of support. Knowledge of sociographic profiles is a determinant of successful social work and social epidemiology in order to develop social and multidisciplinary intervention programs and social policies that promote individual and social well-being of chronic kidney disease patients.