Background: Family members of persons with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease may experience feelings of\r\nvulnerability and insecurity as the disease follows its course. Against this background, the aim of the present study\r\nwas to explore empowerment in outpatient care as experienced by these family members.\r\nMethods: An inductive approach for qualitative data analysis was chosen. The study sample comprised 12 family\r\nmembers of pre-dialysis patients at an outpatient kidney clinic. Two interviews with each family member were\r\nsubjected to content analysis to gain an understanding of empowerment from the family members� perspective.\r\nResults: Having strength to assume the responsibility was the main theme that emerged from the following five\r\nsub-themes: Being an involved participant, Having confirming encounters, Trusting in health-care staff,\r\nComprehending through knowledge, and Feeling left out. Four of these five sub-themes were positive. The fifth\r\nsubtheme illuminated negative experience, indicating the absence of empowerment.\r\nConclusions: Family members� experience of empowerment is dependent on their ability to assume the\r\nresponsibility for a relative with chronic kidney disease when needed. The findings emphasise the need for a family\r\nperspective and the significance of a supportive environment for family members of persons in outpatient care.
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