Daily life of patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis treatment.

This analytical descriptive study aimed at assessing the perception of people with chronic renal failure in relation to their daily and occupational activities. The sample was formed by 35 men and 35 women receiving hemodialysis treatment with ages between 17 and 60 years. The instrument used was the SAOF (Self Assessment of Occupational Functioning). The data were submitted to statistical analysis and the areas with greater choice of the alternative "need to improve" were habits (20%) and values (20.5%). In these areas, the proportion related with difficulties was more evident regarding organization of the daily life, the changes of routines and the expectations about the future. Therefore, occupational therapy, as it presents instrumental resources to reorganize daily life of these patients, can contribute for their care as well as with information for nursing.