An Exploration Of How Persons Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis Describe How Access To Transportation For Treatment Influences Their Overall Health

Individuals having in-center hemodialysis treatment require transportation services on average six trips a week (three roundtrips for three treatment days), making access to transportation an important component for sustaining the health and well-being of these individuals. This qualitative study aimed to explore how persons receiving in-center hemodialysis treatment explain ways in which access to transportation for such treatment influences their overall health using the World Health Organization's definition of health. Purposive sampling was used to recruit eight participants from a community hemodialysis center in a suburban region of Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Data were obtained using semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed using inductive analysis. Three interrelated themes revealed each patient's experience: reliability, choice, and personal safety.