Dialysis attendance patterns and health care utilisation of Aboriginal patients attending dialysis services in urban, rural and remote locations

The effect of ambient temperatures on hospital admissions for kidney diseases in Central Australia

This study aimed to quantify risk of hospitalisations for kidney diseases related to ambient temperature in Central Australia, Northern Territory (NT). Daily hospitalisation data were extracted for Alice Springs Hospital, Central Australia, 2010-2021. The association between daily mean temperature and daily hospital admissions for total kidney and specific kidney conditions was assessed using a quasi-Poisson Generalized Linear Model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model. A total of 52,057 hospitalisations associated with kidney diseases were recorded. In general, risk of specific kidney related hospitalisations was immediate due to hot temperatures and prolonged due to cold temperatures. Relative to the minimum-risk temperature (5.1 °C), at 31 °C, cumulative relative risk (RR) of hospitalisations for total kidney disease (TKD) was 1.297 [95% CI 1.164,1.446] over lag0-1 days, for chronic kidney disease (CKD) cumulative RR was 1.269 [95% CI 1.115,1.444] and for kidney failure (KF) cumulative RR was 1.252 [95% CI 1.107,1.416] at lag 0, and for urinary tract infection (UTI) cumulative RR was 1.522 [95% CI 1.072,2.162] over lag0-7 days. At 16 °C and over lag0-7 days, cumulative RR of hospitalisations for TKD was 1.320 [95% CI 1.135,1.535], for CKD was 1.232 [95% CI 1.025,1.482], for RF was 1.233 [95% CI 1.035,1.470] and for UTI was 1.597 [95% CI 1.143, 2.231]. Both cold and hot temperatures were also associated with increased risks of kidney related total hospitalisations among First Nations Australians and women. Overall, temperature attributable to 13.7% (i.e. 7138 cases) of kidney related hospitalisations with higher attributable hospitalisations from cold temperature. Given the significant burden of kidney disease and projected increases in extreme temperatures associated with climate change in NT including Central Australia there is a need to implement public health and environmental health risk reduction strategies and awareness programs to mitigate potential adverse health effects of extreme temperatures.

Haemodialysis patient's adherence to treatment: Relationships among nurse-patient-initiated participation and nurse's attitude towards patient participation

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the relationship between nurse-patient-initiated participation, nurses' attitudes towards patient's participation, and patients' adherence to treatment. Specifically, to (1) explore nurse-patient participation during haemodialysis and quantify the information into measurable indices; (2) determine the haemodialysis patient's adherence to treatment; (3) describe nurses' attitudes towards patient participation; and (4) establish the relationships between nurse-patient-initiated participation, nurses' attitudes towards patient participation and patients' adherence to treatment.

BACKGROUND

To improve haemodialysis patients' health, it is crucial to identify nurses' and patients' factors facilitating adherence to treatment.

DESIGN

An exploratory-sequential mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) design.

METHODS

All nurses working at a dialysis ward (n = 30) and their randomly selected patients (n = 102) participated. Qualitative data on nurse-patient-initiated participation were derived from transcribed nurse-patient conversations and quantified for further analyses. Nurses' attitudes towards patient participation were collected via questionnaire, and adherence to treatment via observed reduction in prescribed haemodialysis time. [CONSORT-SPI guidelines].

RESULTS

Content analysis of the conversations indicated that nurse-initiated participation focused on patient's medical condition, treatment plan and education; while patients initiated more small talk. Non-adherence to treatment was significant (Mean = 0.19 h; SD = 0.33). Regression analyses indicated that nurses' attitude towards participation was negatively linked to patient adherence, while patient-nurse-initiated participation was unrelated. Nurses' attitudes towards patient participation moderated the relationship between nurse-patient-initiated participation and patient adherence: the more positive the attitude towards inclusion the more negative the link between patient or nurse-initiated participation and patient adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provided paradoxical insights: Nurses' positive attitudes towards participation lead them to accept the patient's position for shortening haemodialysis treatment, so that adherence to care decreases.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses require education on negotiating methods to help achieve patient adherence while respecting the patient's opinion. Patients should be educated how to approach nurses, seeking the information they need.