Table 3 Respondents’ characteristics
From: Hemodialysis patients’ preferences for the management of anemia
Characteristic | Statistic or category | Overall (N = 200) |
|---|---|---|
Demographic characteristics | ||
Age (years) | Mean (SD) | 54.1 (13.4) |
Median | 54.0 | |
Gender | Female | 98 (49.2%) |
Male | 99 (49.7%) | |
Prefer not to answer | 2 (1.0%) | |
Missing | 1 | |
Race/ethnicity | White or Caucasian | 102 (51.0%) |
Black or African American | 66 (33.0%) | |
Other | 36 (18.0%) | |
Prefer not to answer | 4 (2.0%) | |
Highest level of education | High school or less than high school | 44 (22.0%) |
More than high school | 156 (78.0%) | |
Clinical characteristics | ||
Duration of time receiving dialysis | Less than 6 months | 3 (1.5%) |
6 months to less than 1 year | 8 (4.0%) | |
1 year to less than 2 years | 30 (15.0%) | |
2 years to less than 5 years | 89 (44.5%) | |
5 years to less than 10 years | 54 (27.0%) | |
10 years or more | 16 (8.0%) | |
Ever received a diagnosis of anemia from a doctor or health care professional | Yes | 163 (81.5%) |
No | 21 (10.5%) | |
Don’t know/not sure | 16 (8.0%) | |
Ever experienced the following anemia symptoms (check all that apply) | Feel tired and have little energy for your daily activities | 152 (93.3%) |
Have a rapid heartbeat | 50 (30.7%) | |
Have little or no appetite | 80 (49.1%) | |
Feel depressed or “down in the dumps” | 82 (50.3%) | |
Have trouble thinking clearly | 69 (42.3%) | |
Feel dizzy or have headaches | 71 (43.6%) | |
Feel short of breath | 76 (46.6%) | |
Have trouble sleeping | 113 (69.3%) | |
Look pale | 48 (29.4%) | |
None of the above | 3 (1.8%) | |
Which of the following anemia symptoms would be most bothersome? | Feeling tired and having little energy for your daily activities | 125 (62.5%) |
Shortness of breath | 51 (25.5%) | |
Trouble thinking clearly | 24 (12.0%) | |
Ever had a red blood cell transfusion | Yes | 90 (45.0%) |
No | 92 (46.0%) | |
Don’t know/not sure | 18 (9.0%) | |
Ever experienced a heart attack or stroke | Yes | 40 (20.0%) |
No | 155 (77.5%) | |
Don’t know/not sure | 5 (2.5%) | |
Usual mode of receiving anemia medicationa | As an injection directly into the dialysis line during my regular dialysis treatment | 128 (64.0%) |
As an injection under my skin while I am receiving my regular dialysis treatment | 7 (3.5%) | |
I do not currently take an anemia medicine | 65 (32.5%) |