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Department of HEALTH CARE SCIENCES
Campus Ersta

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Position:	Senior Lecturer
Telephone:	+46 8 555 050 31
Mobile:	+46 73-634 81 01
E-mail:	birger.hagren(at)esh.se
Address:	Ersta Sköndal University College Department of Health Care Sciences Box 111 89 SE-100 61 Stockholm Sweden
Visiting address:	Stigbergsgatan 30

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Main Area of Research Interest 

The phenomenon of suffering within nursing care.
  

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Title of research project 

The life-situation for patients requiring hemodialysis.

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Correspondence 

Birger Hagren, RN, MSc, Department of Nursing, Ersta Sköndal University College
  

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Supervisors 
Kim Lützén, RN, PhD, Department of Nursing Ersta University College

Elisabeth Severinsson, RNT, DrPH, Professor at Hedmark College, Department of Nursing Education, Elverum and Associate Professor, University of Oslo, Institute of Nursing Science Norway

Naomi Clyne, MD, PhD, Department of Nephrology, Karolinska Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm Sweden

Inga-Märta Pettersen, RN, Department of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  

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Aims 

To identify qualitative aspects involved in the care of persons who receive hemodialysis and to identify and analyze main factors that impact on the quality of life for persons with endstage renal disease.
 

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Findings 

The first study indicated that , in the lives of patients on hemodialysis, main areas of suffering were related to loss of freedom expressed as dependence on the hemodialysis machine as a lifeline and, the caregivers. This time-consuming and tiring dependence affect marital, family and social life. Alleviation of suffering could be achieved by accepting dependence on the hemodialysis machine and maintaining autonomy by being seen as an individual by the caregivers.