The Dietary Patterns of Japanese Hemodialysis Patients: A Focused Ethnography

Abstract

The relationship between diet and kidney disease outcomes has been established, and as a result, hemodialysis patients are required to modify their diet. However, there is a gap in understanding how diet is influenced by social factors, particularly among Japanese patients whose diet is known to be high in salt. The purpose was to explore the dietary patterns of Japanese hemodialysis patients and better understand the challenges they face in adhering to dietary restrictions. A focused ethnography, employing observational methods with six Japanese hemodialysis patients was undertaken. Fieldwork included observations, informal interviews, and weekly formal interviews for 6 weeks. Five categories were identified during the process of data analysis. This study highlights the strong influence of culture, tradition, and family on the dietary patterns of Japanese hemodialysis patients, which has rarely been acknowledged by Japanese health professionals. The translated abstract was prepared by the author based on the accepted English version of the original abstract. Only light additional review of the translation has been completed by the journal.