Patient and caregiver values, beliefs and experiences when considering home dialysis as a treatment option: a semi-structured interview study

Needs Around Dialysis Treatment from Different Perspectives (NADIP): Results of the Exploratory German Multicenter Survey

BACKGROUND/AIMS

In 2015, approximately 70,000 patients with end-stage renal disease were treated chronically with dialysis in Germany. However, there is only sparse information regarding subjective appreciation of the different aspects of extracorporeal renal replacement therapies. This study was performed to gain insight into the needs and appreciation of services in dialysis centers in Germany including the views not only of the patients but also of the caregivers, physicians, and nurses.

METHODS

A cross-sectional written voluntary questionnaire survey based on the international RAND Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (version 1.3) comprising 510 adult dialysis patients, 274 caregivers, 29 physicians, and 60 nurses in 30 dialysis centers across Germany.

RESULTS

Although patients were mostly satisfied with present treatment options, room for improvement exists. Patients were less critical of services than doctors and nurses. Factors such as trustworthy contact with staff at the centers as well as information exchange with other patients and among caregivers play a significant role in the patients' perception of a high-quality dialysis treatment facility. Therefore, continued cost saving, in particular regarding personnel, may subjectively counteract the objective technical improvements of dialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

High-quality technical standards are essential for successful dialysis therapy; however, additionally, we recommend an array of communicative and social tools employed by all stakeholders to convey and exchange information and also support subjective well-being. This survey represents one of the largest evaluations to date. The data are also of potential international relevance for non-German health management systems.

Home Dialysis Among Elderly Patients: Outcomes and Future Directions

Elderly patients who receive home dialysis (peritoneal dialysis or home hemodialysis) may have reduced survival compared to younger patients. Therefore, it is important to ascertain the goals of home dialysis in the elderly rather than simply fixate on standard metrics such as technique survival. As Canada's population continues to age, the prevalence of end-stage kidney disease among the elderly population is increasing. Patients with multiple comorbidities are now surviving long enough to be started on dialysis. Although home dialysis has been associated with better survival and improved quality of life, its impact on the frail and elderly populations require further elucidation. Home dialysis patients can either independently perform tasks or have support in the home to safely conduct dialysis. Moreover, patients burdened with frailty and multiple comorbidities who lack support in the home may not be able to perform home dialysis safely. Innovative strategies to improve accessibility to home-based therapies need further exploration. In addition, the concept of goal-directed dialysis promotes more individualized treatment. Future continuous quality improvement initiatives must examine if goal-directed dialysis leads to better quality of life outcomes in the elderly.

Transition Between Different Renal Replacement Modalities: Gaps in Knowledge and Care-The Integrated Research Initiative

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have different options to replace the function of their failing kidneys. The "integrated care" model considers treatment pathways rather than individual renal replacement therapy (RRT) techniques. In such a paradigm, the optimal strategy to plan and enact transitions between the different modalities is very relevant, but so far, only limited data on transitions have been published. Perspectives of patients, caregivers, and health professionals on the process of transitioning are even less well documented. Available literature suggests that poor coordination causes significant morbidity and mortality.This review briefly provides the background, development, and scope of the INTErnational Group Research Assessing Transition Effects in Dialysis (INTEGRATED) initiative. We summarize the literature on the transition between different RRT modalities. Further, we present an international research plan to quantify the epidemiology and to assess the qualitative aspects of transition between different modalities.

Health-related quality of life and well-being in people over 75 years of age with end-stage kidney disease managed with dialysis or comprehensive conservative care: a cross-sectional study in the UK and Australia

OBJECTIVE

To measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being in older people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and to determine the association between treatment type and sociodemographic characteristics on these outcome measures. In addition, to assess the convergent validity between the HRQoL and well-being measure and their feasibility and acceptability in this population.

DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Three renal units in the UK and Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

129 patients with ESKD managed with dialysis or with an estimated glomerular filtration ≤10 mL/min/1.73 m² and managed with comprehensive conservative, non-dialytic care.

OUTCOME MEASURES

HRQoL and well-being were assessed using Short-Form six dimensions (SF-6D, 0-1 scale); Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL-36) (0-100 scale) and Investigating Choice Experiments Capability Measure-Older people (ICECAP-O, 0-1 scale). Linear regression assessed associations between treatment, HRQoL and well-being. Pearson's correlation coefficient assessed convergent validity between instruments.

RESULTS

Median age of 81 years (IQR 78-85), 65% males; 83 (64%) were managed with dialysis and 46 (36%) with conservative care. When adjusted for treatment type and sociodemographic variables, those managed on dialysis reported lower mean SF-6D utility (-0.05, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.01); lower KDQOL Physical Component Summary score (-3.17, 95% CI -7.61 to 1.27); lower Mental Component Summary score (-2.41, 95% CI -7.66 to 2.84); lower quality of life due to burden (-28.59, 95% CI -41.77 to -15.42); symptoms (-5.93, 95% CI -14.61 to 2.73) and effects of kidney disease (-16.49, 95% CI -25.98 to -6.99) and lower overall ICECAP-O well-being (-0.07, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.02) than those managed conservatively. Correlation between ICECAP-O well-being and SF-6D utility scores was strong overall, 0.65 (p<0.001), but weak to moderate at domain level.

CONCLUSIONS

Older people on dialysis report significantly higher burden and effects of kidney disease than those on conservative care. Lower HRQoL and well-being may be associated with dialysis treatment and should inform shared decision-making about treatment options.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UK (IRAS project ID: 134360andREC reference 14/LO/0291) and Australia (R20140203 HREC/14/RAH/36).

International Variations in Peritoneal Dialysis Utilization and Implications for Practice

In many countries, the use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains low despite arguments that support its greater use, including dialysis treatment away from hospital settings, avoidance of central venous catheters, and potential health economic advantages. Training patients to manage aspects of their own care has the potential to enhance health literacy and increase patient involvement, independence, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of care. Complex reasons underlie the variable use of PD across the world, acting at the level of the patient, the health care team that is responsible for them, and the health care system that they find themselves in. Important among these is the availability of competitively priced dialysis fluid. A number of key interventions can affect the uptake of PD. These include high-quality patient education around dialysis modality choice, timely and successful catheter placement, satisfactory patient training, and continued support that is tailored for specific needs, for example, when people present late requiring dialysis. Several health system changes have been shown to increase PD use, such as targeted funding, PD First initiatives, or physician-inserted PD catheters. This review explores the factors that explain the considerable international variation in the use of PD and presents interventions that can potentially affect them.

Changing ethnic and clinical trends and factors associated with successful home haemodialysis at Auckland District Health Board

BACKGROUND

The health and diversity of the population in New Zealand (NZ) is changing under the influence of many socio-economic factors. This may have shifted the landscape of home haemodialysis (HHD).

AIMS

To examine the demographic and clinical changes, determinants of HHD training and technique outcome and mortality between 2008 and 2015 at Auckland District Health Board, NZ.

METHODS

We compared three incident cohorts of HHD patients between 2008 and 2015. Relevant factors, including demographic and clinical characteristics, training failure, technique failure and mortality were recorded. Factors associated with training and technique failure were examined by multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 152 patients, 133 completed training, 13 (10%) experienced technique failure and 15 (11%) died. Significant changes in ethnicity (increased: Māori 1.7-fold, Asian 1.7-fold and Pasifika 1.4-fold; decreased: NZ European 2.7-fold, P = 0.001), and major comorbidities, ≥2 major comorbidities (1.8-fold increase, P = 0.03), diabetes (2.1-fold increase, P = 0.013) and heart failure (P = 0.04) were seen. HHD as first renal replacement therapy modality increased 15-fold (P = 0.0001) and training time increased by 4.5 weeks (P = 0.004). Death and technique failure were unchanged over time. Shorter training time, employment and lower C-reactive protein were associated with 'Successful HHD'. 'Unsuccessful HHD' patient characteristics differed by ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The HHD population has become more representative of the NZ population, but significantly more comorbid over time. Patient training time has increased, but mortality and technique failure remain stable. 'Successful HHD' is predicted by social and clinical factors, and 'unsuccessful HHD' may have different mechanisms in different patient groups.

Supporting the Establishment of New Home Dialysis Programs Through the Explore Home Dialysis Program

INTRODUCTION

The globally increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease has resulted in an ever-growing demand for renal replacement therapy. Although programs are present around the world, there is a paucity of immersive educational programs that train clinicians and administrators to develop new home dialysis programs. Explore Home Dialysis (EHD) is a program created to fill this gap.

METHODS

We present the results of the evaluation of the EHD program. Our team interviewed 23 clinicians and administrators who participated in the EHD program. We also assessed country-specific needs and challenges associated with home dialysis.

RESULTS

The 4 main findings include (i) the evaluation of the effectiveness of the EHD program; (ii) the need for an educational program to train individuals on how to deploy home dialysis programs; (iii) evidence that such an educational program is beneficial to participants and for the establishment of new home dialysis programs; and (iv) the identification of barriers to the development of home dialysis programs in countries represented in this study. The data show an increased demand, with strong patient and provider interest in establishing new programs, interest in accessing resources to train clinical and administrative staff in how to run a home dialysis program, and positive feedback about the EHD program in general.

CONCLUSIONS

The data from this study were used in the next iteration of the EHD program, to inform clinicians about challenges in the deployment of new home dialysis programs, and to present educational resources that need to be developed in the future.

Patient and Caregiver Priorities for Outcomes in Peritoneal Dialysis: Multinational Nominal Group Technique Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The absence of accepted patient-centered outcomes in research can limit shared decision-making in peritoneal dialysis (PD), particularly because PD-related treatments can be associated with mortality, technique failure, and complications that can impair quality of life. We aimed to identify patient and caregiver priorities for outcomes in PD, and to describe the reasons for their choices.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Patients on PD and their caregivers were purposively sampled from nine dialysis units across Australia, the United States, and Hong Kong. Using nominal group technique, participants identified and ranked outcomes, and discussed the reasons for their choices. An importance score (scale 0-1) was calculated for each outcome. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

Across 14 groups, 126 participants (81 patients, 45 caregivers), aged 18-84 (mean 54, SD 15) years, identified 56 outcomes. The ten highest ranked outcomes were PD infection (importance score, 0.27), mortality (0.25), fatigue (0.25), flexibility with time (0.18), BP (0.17), PD failure (0.16), ability to travel (0.15), sleep (0.14), ability to work (0.14), and effect on family (0.12). Mortality was ranked first in Australia, second in Hong Kong, and 15th in the United States. The five themes were serious and cascading consequences on health, current and impending relevance, maintaining role and social functioning, requiring constant vigilance, and beyond control and responsibility.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients on PD and their caregivers, PD-related infection, mortality, and fatigue were of highest priority, and were focused on health, maintaining lifestyle, and self-management. Reporting these patient-centered outcomes may enhance the relevance of research to inform shared decision-making.

Work of being an adult patient with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review of qualitative studies

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires patients and caregivers to invest in self-care and self-management of their disease. We aimed to describe the work for adult patients that follows from these investments and develop an understanding of burden of treatment (BoT).

METHODS

Systematic review of qualitative primary studies that builds on EXPERTS1 Protocol, PROSPERO registration number: CRD42014014547. We included research published in English, Spanish and Portuguese, from 2000 to present, describing experience of illness and healthcare of people with CKD and caregivers. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Scopus, Scientific Electronic Library Online and Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina y el Caribe, España y Portugal. Content was analysed with theoretical framework using middle-range theories.

RESULTS

Searches resulted in 260 studies from 30 countries (5115 patients and 1071 carers). Socioeconomic status was central to the experience of CKD, especially in its advanced stages when renal replacement treatment is necessary. Unfunded healthcare was fragmented and of indeterminate duration, with patients often depending on emergency care. Treatment could lead to unemployment, and in turn, to uninsurance or underinsurance. Patients feared catastrophic events because of diminished financial capacity and made strenuous efforts to prevent them. Transportation to and from haemodialysis centre, with variable availability and cost, was a common problem, aggravated for patients in non-urban areas, or with young children, and low resources. Additional work for those uninsured or underinsured included fund-raising. Transplanted patients needed to manage finances and responsibilities in an uncertain context. Information on the disease, treatment options and immunosuppressants side effects was a widespread problem.

CONCLUSIONS

Being a person with end-stage kidney disease always implied high burden, time-consuming, invasive and exhausting tasks, impacting on all aspects of patients' and caregivers' lives. Further research on BoT could inform healthcare professionals and policy makers about factors that shape patients' trajectories and contribute towards a better illness experience for those living with CKD.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42014014547.

Cost of Dialysis Therapy by Modality in Manitoba

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The prevalence of ESKD is increasing worldwide. Treating ESKD is disproportionately costly in comparison with its prevalence, mostly due to the direct cost of dialysis therapy. Here, we aim to provide a contemporary cost description of dialysis modalities, including facility-based hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home hemodialysis, provided with conventional dialysis machines and the NxStage System One.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We constructed a cost-minimization model from the perspective of the Canadian single-payer health care system including all costs related to dialysis care. The labor component of costs consisted of a breakdown of activity-based per patient direct labor requirements. Other costs were taken from statements of operations for the kidney program at Seven Oaks General Hospital (Winnipeg, Canada). All costs are reported in Canadian dollars.

RESULTS

Annual maintenance expenses were estimated as $64,214 for in-center facility hemodialysis, $43,816 for home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One, $39,236 for home hemodialysis with conventional dialysis machines, and $38,658 for peritoneal dialysis. Training costs for in-center facility hemodialysis, home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One, home hemodialysis with conventional dialysis machines, and peritoneal dialysis are estimated as $0, $16,143, $24,379, and $7157, respectively. The threshold point to achieve cost neutrality was determined to be 9.7 months from in-center hemodialysis to home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One, 12.6 months from in-center hemodialysis to home hemodialysis with conventional dialysis machines, and 3.2 months from in-center hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Home modalities have lower maintenance costs, and beyond a short time horizon, they are most cost efficient when considering their incremental training expenses.

PODCAST

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2018_07_18_CJASNPodcast_18_8_F.mp3.

Integration of Care in Management of CKD in Resource-Limited Settings

The prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), continues to increase worldwide, and mortality from noncommunicable diseases is projected to surpass communicable disease-related mortality in developing countries. Although the treatment of CKD is expensive, unaffordable, and unavailable in many developing countries, the current structure of the health care system in such countries is not set up to deliver comprehensive care for patients with chronic conditions, including CKD. The World Health Organization Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions framework could be leveraged to improve the care of CKD patients worldwide, especially in resource-limited countries where high cost, low infrastructure, limited workforce, and a dearth of effective health policies exist. Some developing countries already are using established health systems for communicable disease control to tackle noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, therefore existing systems could be leveraged to integrate CKD care. Decision makers in developing countries must realize that to improve outcomes for patients with CKD, important factors should be considered, including enhancing CKD prevention programs in their communities, managing the political environment through involvement of the political class, involving patients and their families in CKD care delivery, and effective use of health care personnel.

Research Priorities for Palliative Care for Older Adults with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have multiple comorbid conditions, a high symptom burden, and limited life expectancy. There is mounting concern that the intensive patterns of care that many of these patients receive at the end of life are discordant with their values and preferences. The nephrology community has recognized that there are significant unmet palliative care needs in this population. In this article, we identify three broad areas of knowledge deficit where more evidence is needed to support the "best care possible" for this population: (1) what matters most to older adults with advanced CKD and their caregivers near the end of life; (2) how the nephrology community can best support older adults with advanced CKD to navigate complex treatment decisions throughout their illness; and (3) how the healthcare system should be reconfigured to promote patient- and family-centered care for older adults with advanced CKD. Research priorities include identifying opportunities for improving the end-of-life experience of older adults with CKD and their caregivers; developing and testing communication interventions before and during dialysis to ensure that treatment decisions reflect patients' preferences; and assessing the effectiveness of palliative care in improving quality of life for patients and caregivers, satisfaction with care, and aligning treatment decisions with patient goals and preferences.

A Discrete Choice Study of Patient Preferences for Dialysis Modalities

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Improved knowledge about factors that influence patient choices when considering dialysis modality could facilitate health care interventions to increase rates of home dialysis. We aimed to quantify the attributes of dialysis care and the tradeoffs that patients consider when making decisions about dialysis modalities.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We conducted a prospective, discrete choice experiment survey with random parameter logit analysis to quantify preferences and tradeoffs for attributes of dialysis treatment in 143 adult patients with CKD expected to require RRT within 12 months (predialysis). The attributes included schedule flexibility, patient out of pocket costs, subsidized transport services, level of nursing support, life expectancy, dialysis training time, wellbeing on dialysis, and dialysis schedule (frequency and duration). We reported outcomes using β-coefficients with corresponding odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for choosing home-based dialysis (peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis) compared with facility hemodialysis.

RESULTS

Home-based therapies were significantly preferred with the following attributes: longer survival (odds ratio per year, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.25 to 2.12), increased treatment flexibility (odds ratio, 9.22; 95% confidence interval, 2.71 to 31.3), improved wellbeing (odds ratio, 210; 95% confidence interval, 15 to 2489), and more nursing support (odds ratio, 87.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.8 to 2014). Respondents were willing to accept additional out of pocket costs of approximately New Zealand $400 (United States $271) per month (95% confidence interval, New Zealand $333 to $465) to receive increased nursing support. Patients were willing to accept out of pocket costs of New Zealand $223 (United States $151) per month (95% confidence interval, New Zealand $195 to $251) for more treatment flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients preferred home dialysis over facility-based care when increased nursing support was available and when longer survival, wellbeing, and flexibility were expected. Sociodemographics, such as age, ethnicity, and income, influenced patient choice.

Predictors of Health Deterioration Among Older Adults After 12 Months of Dialysis Therapy: A Longitudinal Cohort Study From New Zealand

BACKGROUND

Involving patients in dialysis decision making is crucial, yet little is known about patient-reported experiences and patient-reported outcomes of dialysis.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective longitudinal cohort study of older patients receiving long-term dialysis. Predictors of worse health status were assessed using modified Poisson regression analysis.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

150 New Zealanders 65 years or older with end-stage kidney disease dialyzing at 1 of 3 nephrology centers.

PREDICTORS

Patient-reported social and health characteristics based on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, EQ-5D, and Kidney Symptom Score questionnaires and clinical information from health records.

OUTCOMES

Health status after 12 months of follow-up.

RESULTS

35% of study participants had reported worse health or had died at 12 months. Baseline variables independently associated with reduced risk for worse health status were Pacific ethnicity (relative risk [RR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.53-0.72), greater bother on the Kidney Symptom Score (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.97), and dialyzing at home with either home hemodialysis (RR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36-0.83) or peritoneal dialysis (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79-0.93). Baseline variables independently associated with increased risk were greater social dissatisfaction (RR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.27-2.17), lower sense of community (RR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.09-2.64), comorbid conditions (RR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.09-2.64), EQ-5D anxiety/depression (RR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.07-2.42); poor/fair overall general health (RR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.37-1.85), and longer time on dialysis therapy (RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.05).

LIMITATIONS

Small sample size restricted study power.

CONCLUSIONS

Most older dialyzing patients studied reported same/better health 12 months later. Home-based dialysis, regardless of whether hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, was associated with reduced risk for worse health, and older Pacific People reported better outcomes on dialysis therapy. Social and/or clinical interventions aimed at improving social satisfaction, sense of community, and reducing anxiety/depression may favorably affect the experiences of older patients receiving long-term dialysis.

"Maybe They Don't Even Know That I Exist": Challenges Faced by Family Members and Friends of Patients with Advanced Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Family members and friends of patients with advanced chronic illness are increasingly called on to assist with ever more complex medical care and treatment decisions arising late in the course of illness. Our goal was to learn about the experiences of family members and friends of patients with advanced kidney disease.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

As part of a study intended to identify opportunities to enhance advance care planning, we conducted semistructured interviews at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System with 17 family members and friends of patients with advanced kidney disease. Interviews were conducted between April of 2014 and May of 2016 and were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed inductively using grounded theory to identify emergent themes.

RESULTS

The following three themes emerged from interviews with patients' family members and friends: (1) their roles in care and planning were fluid over the course of the patient's illness, shaped by the patients' changing needs and their readiness to involve those close to them; (2) their involvement in patients' care was strongly shaped by health care system needs. Family and friends described filling gaps left by the health care system and how their involvement in care and decision-making was at times constrained and at other times expected by providers, depending on system needs; and (3) they described multiple sources of tension and conflict in their interactions with patients and the health care system, including instances of being pitted against the patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Interviews with family members and friends of patients with advanced kidney disease provide a window on the complex dynamics shaping their engagement in patients' care, and highlight the potential value of offering opportunities for engagement throughout the course of illness.

Commitment to care: the most important coping strategies among family caregivers of patients undergoing haemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of patients undergoing haemodialysis often experience an intensive burden of care; therefore, it is important to understand the type of strategies that are used by caregivers to adapt and to commit themselves to caring for another individual.

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore the specific coping strategies used by family caregivers of patients undergoing haemodialysis.

METHODS

In this qualitative study, 16 family caregivers of patients undergoing haemodialysis were selected through purposive sampling in four dialysis centres in south of Iran. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. A content analysis of the interviews was performed to determine relevant themes.

RESULTS

Data analysis resulted in the emergence of four categories including 'cultural and religious constructs', 'sense of responsibility', 'self-restraint' and 'satisfactory caring', as whole of these categories are included in the main theme of 'commitment to care' which is experienced by the family caregivers during the care of patients undergoing haemodialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that coping strategies stemming from the cultural beliefs of caregivers are very salient in their commitment to care; thus, the health-care team, especially nurses, should encourage family caregivers to use these strategies to maintain their physical and psychological health and to provide quality care for patients.

Nephrologists' Perspectives on Defining and Applying Patient-Centered Outcomes in Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patient centeredness is widely advocated as a cornerstone of health care, but it is yet to be fully realized, including in nephrology. Our study aims to describe nephrologists' perspectives on defining and implementing patient-centered outcomes in hemodialysis.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Face-to-face, semistructured interviews were conducted with 58 nephrologists from 27 dialysis units across nine countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Singapore, and New Zealand. Transcripts were thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified five themes on defining and implementing patient-centered outcomes in hemodialysis: explicitly prioritized by patients (articulated preferences and goals, ascertaining treatment burden, defining hemodialysis success, distinguishing a physician-patient dichotomy, and supporting shared decision making), optimizing wellbeing (respecting patient choice, focusing on symptomology, perceptible and tangible, and judging relevance and consequence), comprehending extensive heterogeneity of clinical and quality of life outcomes (distilling diverse priorities, highly individualized, attempting to specify outcomes, and broadening context), clinically hamstrung (professional deficiency, uncertainty and complexity in measurement, beyond medical purview, specificity of care, mechanistic mindset [focused on biochemical targets and comorbidities], avoiding alarm, and paradoxical dilemma), and undermined by system pressures (adhering to overarching policies, misalignment with mandates, and resource constraints).

CONCLUSIONS

Improving patient-centered outcomes is regarded by nephrologists to encompass strategies that address patient goals and improve wellbeing and treatment burden in patients on hemodialysis. However, efforts are hampered by ambiguities about how to prioritize, measure, and manage the plethora of critical comorbidities and broader quality of life outcomes in a care setting that is technically demanding and driven by biochemical targets. Identifying critical patient-important outcomes and mechanisms for integrating them into practice may help to deliver patient-centered care in hemodialysis and other chronic disease settings.

Home hemodialysis: a comprehensive review of patient-centered and economic considerations

Internationally, the number of patients requiring treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) continues to increase, placing substantial burden on health systems and patients. Home hemodialysis (HD) has fluctuated in its popularity, and the rates of home HD vary considerably between and within countries although there is evidence suggesting a number of clinical, survival, economic, and quality of life (QoL) advantages associated with this treatment. International guidelines encourage shared decision making between patients and clinicians for the type of dialysis, with an emphasis on a treatment that aligned to the patients’ lifestyle. This is a comprehensive literature review of patient-centered and economic impacts of home HD with the studies published between January 2000 and July 2016. Data from the primary studies representing both efficiency and equity of home HD were presented as a narrative synthesis under the following topics: advantages to patients, barriers to patients, economic factors influencing patients, cost-effectiveness of home HD, and inequities in home HD delivery. There were a number of advantages for patients on home HD including improved survival and QoL and flexibility and potential for employment, compared to hospital HD. Similarly, there were several barriers to patients preferring or maintaining home HD, and the strategies to overcome these barriers were frequently reported. Good evidence reported that indigenous, low-income, and other socially disadvantaged individuals had reduced access to home HD compared to other forms of dialysis and that this situation compounds already-poor health outcomes on renal replacement therapy. Government policies that minimize barriers to home HD include reimbursement for dialysis-related out-of-pocket costs and employment-retention interventions for home HD patients and their family members. This review argues that home HD is a cost-effective treatment, and increasing the proportion of patients on this form of dialysis compared to hospital HD will result in a more equitable distribution of good health outcomes for individuals with ESKD.

Why take the chance? A qualitative grounded theory study of nocturnal haemodialysis recipients who decline kidney transplantation

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the factors that influence decision-making to forgo transplantation in favour of remaining on nocturnal haemodialysis (NHD).

DESIGN

A grounded theory approach using in-depth telephone interviewing was used.

SETTING

Participants were identified from 2 tertiary care renal programmes in Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

The study participants were otherwise eligible patients with end-stage renal disease who have opted to remain off of the transplant list. A total of 7 eligible participants were interviewed. 5 were male. The mean age was 46 years.

ANALYSIS

A constant comparative method of analysis was used to identify a core category and factors influencing the decision-making process.

RESULTS

In this grounded theory study of people receiving NHD who refused kidney transplantation, the core category of 'why take a chance when things are going well?' was identified, along with 4 factors that influenced the decision including 'negative past experience', 'feeling well on NHD', 'gaining autonomy' and 'responsibility'.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insight into patients' thought processes surrounding an important treatment decision. Such insights might help the renal team to better understand, and thereby respect, patient choice in a patient-centred care paradigm. Findings may also be useful in the development of education programmes addressing the specific concerns of this population of patients.

Barriers to and facilitators of care for hemodialysis patients; a qualitative study

Introduction: Patients undergoing hemodialysis require direct and continuous care. Identifying the barriers to and factors facilitating hemodialysis care can improve care quality.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the barriers and facilitators of care for hemodialysis patients.

Patients and Methods: This study was conducted as a qualitative study and it utilized content analysis approach. The study was performed in hemodialysis ward of Kowsar hospital in Semnan, in 2014. We used purposive sampling method with maximum diversity. Semi-structured interviews with open questions were used to collect data from a total of 20 participants.

Results: The main topic of health care challenges was divided into two main categories, including the facilitators and barriers of hemodialysis care. The facilitators of hemodialysis care had four subcategories, including "intimate relationship", "basic knowledge", "hemodialysis skills", and "experience". The category of barriers had eight subcategories, including "shortage of nurses and heavy workload", "weak authority of the head nurse", "ignorant director of nursing", "shortage of nephrologists", "lack of vascular surgery expert", "lack of nurse’s aide and nursing assistant ", "unskilled staffs", and "interference by patients’ caregivers".

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that access to human resources and their abilities were among the factors facilitating care. However, lack of qualified medical staff at each level of care delivery was one of the barriers to hemodialysis care. Hence, it is of great importance for policy makers, managers, and program designers to recruit human resources who have the characteristics and competencies required for providing hemodialysis care.