Patient and caregiver perspectives on burnout in peritoneal dialysis

Patient on Peritoneal Dialysis Transfers to Hemodialysis: Causes and Associated Risks

Key Points

Background

The end of peritoneal dialysis (PD) can be marked by kidney transplantation, death, or transfer to hemodialysis. We compared the risks of the different reasons for transfer to hemodialysis in patients on PD according to the use of assistance for PD care, PD modality, and the suboptimal starter status.

Methods

This was a retrospective study using data from the French Language PD Registry from patients who started PD between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2018. We used Cox and Fine–Gray survival models to evaluate the risks of transfer to hemodialysis due to PD inadequacy, infection, mechanical issue, psychosocial issue, other PD-related causes, and other non–PD-related causes. Models were evaluated for three periods of PD vintage: 0–6 months, 6–18 months, and after 18 months.

Results

The study included 15,974 patients on incident PD treated in 170 French PD units. There were 6835 deaths, 5108 transfers to hemodialysis, and 3092 renal transplantations. Nurse-assisted PD was associated with a lower risk of transfer to hemodialysis for infection in the first 18 months (cause-specific hazard ratio [cs-HR], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31 to 0.83 before 6 months) and for adequacy issues after 6 months (cs-HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.70 after 18 months). The risk of transfer for mechanical issue was higher in continuous ambulatory PD compared with automated PD during the first 18 months (cs-HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.99 before 6 months), but continuous ambulatory PD was associated with a lower risk of adequacy, infectious, or mechanical issue after 18 months. Finally, suboptimal starters have a higher risk of transfer due to psychosocial challenges in the first 6 months (cs-HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.81).

Conclusions

Distinct factors are associated with the risk of transfer from PD to in-center hemodialysis, according to the cause of the transfer. Some preventive measures targeting these risk factors may help to maintain patients in PD.

Podcast

This article contains a podcast at https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/K360/2025_03_27_KID0000000732.mp3

Health-related quality of life in paediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis: Data from a tertiary centre

Kidney failure has a negative impact on both children and families' quality of life (QOL). We evaluated the burden of home peritoneal dialysis (PD) using two local questionnaires and the French version of PedsQL3.0 end-stage kidney disease module and family impact module. Data are expressed as median (min-max). We reviewed the charts of 12 patients, at a median age of 8.8 (1.2-16.7) years, undergoing maintenance PD for 8 (1-42) months. Parathyroid hormone and haemoglobin levels were 215 (17-606) ng/L and 117 (104-141) g/L, respectively. Patients were taking 7 (3-10) different medications, corresponding to 9 (4-17) doses per day. The PD fluid volume per cycle was 1035 (723-1348) mL/m2 with a dwell duration of 75 (60-90) min and 6 (5-9) cycles per night. On a 2-week period, there were 2 (1-11) alarms per night resulting in 2 (0-8) times waking up and getting out of the bed for the parent(s); families were late 1 (0-11) times for school or parent's work. The time spent to connect and disconnect the cycler to the patient was 30 (12-46) min per day. QOL score on child self-report was correlated positively with weight percentile for age (R = 0.857; p = 0.014) and negatively with the number of siblings (R = -0.917; p = 0.004). The children QOL was evaluated higher by self-report scores: 77 (59-87) than by parent-proxy report scores: 53 (29-74), respectively (p = 0.028). PD children/teenagers and their caregivers can feel overwhelmed by the daily home therapy. Self-report and parent-proxy report QOL were significantly different, and it is questionable whether the parent-proxy report QOL relies rather on parents' own QOL.

Establishing a peritoneal dialysis technique survival core outcome measure: A standardised outcomes in nephrology-peritoneal dialysis consensus workshop report

BACKGROUND

Technique survival, also reported with negative connotations as technique failure or transfer from peritoneal dialysis to haemodialysis, has been identified by patients, caregivers and health professionals as a critically important outcome to be reported in all trials. However, there is wide variation in how peritoneal dialysis technique survival is defined, measured and reported, leading to difficulty in comparing or consolidating results.

METHODS

We conducted an online international consensus workshop to establish a core outcome measure of technique survival. Discussions were analysed thematically.

RESULTS

Fifty-five participants including 14 patients and caregivers from 13 countries took part in facilitated breakout discussions using video-conferencing. The following themes were identified: capturing important aspects of the outcome (requiring a core event to define the outcome, distinguishing temporary from permanent events, recognising heterogeneous experiences of transfers), adopting appropriate neutral nomenclature (conveying with clarity, avoiding negative connotations), and ensuring feasibility and applicability (capturing data relevant to clinical and research settings, ease of adoption). The suggested definitions for the core outcome measure were 'the event of a transfer to haemodialysis', or 'discontinuation of peritoneal dialysis'. Applying the principles described within the workshop, defining the outcome measure as a 'transfer to haemodialysis' was preferable.

CONCLUSIONS

It is proposed that the core outcome of technique survival is redefined as 'transfer to haemodialysis' and that its components are standardised using simple, neutral terminology Components considered important by stakeholders included recording the reasons for transfer from peritoneal dialysis, and focussing on permanent events whilst ensuring the outcome remains easy to implement.

The Time-Dependent Effect of Assistance on Peritoneal Dialysis Duration: An Analysis of Data from the French Language Peritoneal Dialysis Registry

Key Points

It is unknown whether the benefit of assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD) programs appears immediately after PD initiation or rather after some time spent on PD. The protective effect of assisted PD on the risk of transfer to hemodialysis was not constant over time; it started after the first 6 months on PD. Assisted PD programs should be sustainable for at least 6 months to observe their benefits.

Background

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient compliance is crucial for the prevention of complications. Assistance is associated with a lower risk of transfer to hemodialysis. As the risk of noncompliance increases over time, the protective effect of assistance on the risk of transfer to hemodialysis may not be immediate after PD initiation, but rather may appear after some time on PD. We aimed to analyze the time-varying effect of assistance on the risk of PD cessation.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted using data from the French Language PD Registry of incident PD patients between 2002 and 2018. Because of nonproportional hazards, with a change in the effect of the assistance modality on the different outcomes appearing at 6 months after PD initiation, the associations between the assistance modality and the different outcomes were explored using time-dependent coefficient Cox regression.

Results

The study included 15,675 patients; 6717 deaths, 4973 transfers to hemodialysis, and 3065 kidney transplantations occurred. Both patients receiving nurse- and family-assisted PD had a lower risk of transfer to hemodialysis (mean cause-specific hazard ratio [cs-HR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62 to 0.72; and mean cs-HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.84). In the first 6 months after PD initiation, nurse-assisted PD patients had a greater risk of transfer to hemodialysis (<6 months cs-HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.36) but had a lower likelihood afterward (≥6 months cs-HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.62). Family-assisted PD was not associated with the risk of transfer to hemodialysis in the first 6 months after PD initiation, and those patients had a lower risk of transfer to hemodialysis afterward (≥6 months cs-HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.82).

Conclusions

When implementing a national nurse-assisted PD program, its positive impact on PD duration should not be expected immediately after PD initiation. Assisted PD programs should be sustainable for at least 6 months to observe their benefits.

Podcast

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/K360/2024_10_31_KID0000000577.mp3

Catastrophic healthcare expenditure and caregiver burden in pediatric chronic kidney disease - a mixed methods study from a low resource setting

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in low resource settings must provide complex medical care at home while being burdened by treatment costs often paid out-of-pocket. We hypothesize that caregiver burden in our low resource setting is greater than reported from high income countries and is associated with frequent catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE).

METHODS

We conducted a mixed-methods study of primary caregivers of children with advanced CKD (stage 3b-5) in our private-sector referral hospital in a low resource setting. We assessed caregiver burden using the Pediatric Renal Caregiver Burden Scale (PRCBS) and measured financial burden by calculating the proportion of caregivers who experienced CHE (monthly out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure exceeding 10% of total household monthly expenditure). We performed a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis of caregiver interviews to explore sources of burden.

RESULTS

Of the 45 caregivers included, 35 (78%) had children on maintenance dialysis (25 PD, 10 HD). Mean caregiver burden score was 141 (± 17), greater than previously reported. On comparative analysis, PRCBS scores were higher among caregivers of children with kidney failure (p = 0.005), recent hospitalization (p = 0.03), non-earning caregivers (p = 0.02), caring for > 2 dependents (p = 0.009), and with high medical expenditure (p = 0.006). CHE occurred in 43 (96%) caregivers of whom 37 (82%) paid out-of-pocket. The main themes derived relating to caregiver burden were severe financial burden, mental stress and isolation, and perpetual burden of concern.

CONCLUSION

Parents of children with CKD experienced severe caregiver burden with frequent CHE and relentless financial stress indicating an imminent need for social support interventions.

The Burden of Home Dialysis: An Overlooked Challenge

Home dialysis offers several clinical and quality-of-life benefits for patients with kidney failure. However, it is important to recognize that home dialysis may place an increased burden on patients and their care partners. Sources of burden may include concerns about the ability to adequately and safely perform dialysis at home, physical symptoms, impairment of life participation, psychosocial challenges, and care partner burnout. Overlooking or failing to address these issues may lead to adverse events that negatively affect health and quality of life and reduce longevity of home dialysis. This study will explore aspects of home dialysis associated with burden, emphasize the need for increased awareness of potential challenges, and elaborate on strategies to overcome sources of burden. Future research should actively involve patients and care partners to better understand their motivation, experiences, and needs to better inform support strategies.

Description and outcomes of a staff-assisted peritoneal dialysis program in the United States

BACKGROUND

Staff-assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD) can help overcome barriers to self-care but is not yet available in the United States (US). We developed and implemented a staff-assisted PD program that fits within current regulatory and cost restraints in the US healthcare environment.

METHODS

Patient care technicians (PCTs) were trained on PD procedures and troubleshooting common problems. The program expanded from two centers in August 2020 to sixteen by October 2022. We described the logistic elements of program delivery, and patient and treatment outcomes for patients discharged by end of April 2023, with a cohort follow up until October 2023.

RESULTS

A total of 121 patients were referred to the program. The most common indications for referral were physical function limitations, cognitive impairment, and psychosocial challenges. Staff assistance was provided for 73 patients. Mean age was 72 (standard deviation 14) years. A total of 604 visits were delivered, with a median 5 (interquartile range [IQR] 3-10, range: 1-49) visits per patient. Median duration of assistance was 8 (IQR: 2-21, range: 1-84) days. Assistance was most frequently needed for PD treatment setup and for observing and directing the technique. No peritonitis events or exit-site infections were reported. Sixty-eight patients (93%) were discharged on PD without staff assistance. The 6- and 12-month survival of PD without assistance was 71% and 57%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Staff-assisted PD for limited time periods is operationally feasible with PCTs in the US and can support transitioning and maintaining patients on PD.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04319185.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Patient and Nurse Preferences around Novel and Standard Automated PD Device Features

Key Points

Adoption and extended time on peritoneal dialysis require patient input across a spectrum of needs, including automated PD (APD) device usability features that are less intimidating to patients and enable lifestyle advantages. Analysis of APD features critical to patients align with patient priorities identified in Standardized Outcomes in NephroloGy-PD: shorter setup time, mobility within the home, near silent operation, and modified APD size/orientation.

Background

Despite offering greater lifestyle benefits to patients with ESKD, adoption of peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains low globally, particularly among minorities and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. While automated PD (APD) affords a high potential for reducing the burden of KRT, understanding patient preferences is critical to guiding development of new and improved APD devices to better accommodate use in their daily lives.

Methods

A quantitative cross-sectional survey study was performed using adaptive conjoint analysis to quantify APD feature preferences among patients on PD, PD Registered Nurses (RNs), and non-PD patients to ascertain the relative importance of eight specific cycler attributes, including portability, noise, setup time, device size, setup directions, battery power, consumables, and PD RN control (PD RNs only), each with 2–3 descriptive feature levels.

Results

Forty-two patients on PD, 24 non-PD patients, and 52 PD RNs were surveyed. Preference shares spanned nearly the entire range from 0% to 100%, indicating strong preference discrimination. For all groups, “Portability in the Home,” “Noise Level,” and “Setup Time” were the most important features. Patients on PD gave highest priority to these features compared with other study participants, plausibly as features enabling improved lifestyle. A simulated “coat rack” style cycler with extended battery power that was easy to move in the home, silent, required only 10-minute setup, and had a fully animated instruction screen was preferred by all groups >90% compared with features present in existing cyclers.

Conclusions

Addressing APD cycler technical and therapy-related issues to improve usability, comfort, and convenience within the home may affect PD uptake and retention. Attention and priority must be given to patient-centric APD cycler design directed at including features that improve quality of life for the device end user.

Connection assist devices for peritoneal dialysis

Patients with kidney failure who require kidney replacement therapy (KRT) have been increasing globally. Home-based therapies, such as peritoneal dialysis (PD), allow patients to undergo KRT in the home environment, alleviating treatment costs, patient transport, and hospital admission. Peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis is still the most frequent complication of PD and is often related to technique failure, which can result in PD failure, transfer to hemodialysis, or mortality. The cause of technique failure is multifactorial, and a portion of technique failure is due to underlying physical or cognitive disabilities. There are several connection devices that have been developed to reduce CAPD-related peritonitis. These connection devices are reviewed in this article.

Predicting transfer to haemodialysis using the peritoneal dialysis surprise question

BACKGROUND

People on peritoneal dialysis (PD) at risk of transfer to haemodialysis (HD) need support to remain on PD or ensure a safe transition to HD. Simple point-of-care risk stratification tools are needed to direct limited dialysis centre resources. In this study, we evaluated the utility of collecting clinicians' identification of patients at high risk of transfer to HD using a single point of care question.

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, we included 1275 patients undergoing PD in 35 home dialysis programmes. We modified the palliative care 'surprise question' (SQ) by asking the registered nurse and treating nephrologist: 'Would you be surprised if this patient transferred to HD in the next six months?' A 'yes' or 'no' answer indicated low and high risk, respectively. We subsequently followed patient outcomes for 6 months. Cox regression model estimated the hazard ratio (HR) of transfer to HD.

RESULTS

Patients' mean age was 59 ± 16 years, 41% were female and the median PD vintage was 20 months (interquartile range: 9-40). Responses were received from nurses for 1123 patients, indicating 169 (15%) as high risk and 954 (85%) as low risk. Over the next 6 months, transfer to HD occurred in 18 (11%) versus 29 (3%) of the high and low-risk groups, respectively (HR: 3.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.17-7.05). Nephrologist responses were obtained for 692 patients, with 118 (17%) and 574 (83%) identified as high and low risk, respectively. Transfer to HD was observed in 14 (12%) of the high-risk group and 14 (2%) of the low-risk group (HR: 5.56, 95% CI: 2.65-11.67). Patients in the high-risk group experienced higher rates of death and hospitalisation than low-risk patients, with peritonitis events being similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDSQ is a simple point of care tool that can help identify patients at high risk of transfer to HD and other poor clinical outcomes.

Increased Access, Persistent Disparities: Trends in Disparities in Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Use, 2009-2019

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) use has increased in the United States since 2009, but how this has affected disparities in PD use is unclear. We used data from the United States Renal Data System to identify a cohort of incident dialysis patients from 2009 to 2019. We used logistic regression models to examine how odds of PD use changed by demographic characteristics. The incident PD population increased by 203% from 2009 to 2019, and the odds of PD use increased in every subgroup. PD use increased more among older people because the odds for those aged 75 years or older increased 15% more per 5-year period compared with individuals aged 18-44 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64 to 1.73 versus OR 1.46, 95% CI, 1.42 to 1.50). The odds of PD use increased 5% more per 5-year period among Hispanic people compared with White people (OR 1.58, 95% CI, 1.53 to 1.63 versus OR 1.51, 95% CI, 1.48 to 1.53). There was no difference in odds of PD initiation among people who were Black, Asian, or of another race. The odds of PD use increased 5% more for people living in urban areas compared with people living in nonurban areas (5-year OR 1.54, 95% CI, 1.52 to 1.56 versus 5-year OR 1.46, 95% CI, 1.42 to 1.50). The odds of PD use increased 7% more for people living in socioeconomically advantaged areas compared with people living in more deprived areas (5-year OR 1.60, 95% CI, 1.56 to 1.63 for neighborhoods with lowest Social Deprivation Index versus 5-year OR 1.50, 95% CI, 1.48 to 1.53 in the most deprived areas). Expansion of PD use led to a reduction in disparities for older people and for Hispanic people. Although PD use increased across all strata of socioeconomic deprivation, the gap in PD use between people living in the least deprived areas and those living in the most deprived areas widened.

Multicentre registry analysis of incremental peritoneal dialysis incidence and associations with patient outcomes

BACKGROUND

Incremental peritoneal dialysis (PD) is increasingly advocated to reduce treatment burden and costs, with potential to better preserve residual kidney function. Global prevalence of incremental PD use is unknown and use in Australia and New Zealand has not been reported.

METHODS

Binational registry analysis including incident adult PD patients in Australia and New Zealand (2007-2017), examining incidence of and outcomes associated with incremental PD (first recorded PD exchange volume <42 L/week (incremental) vs. ≥42 L/week (standard)).

RESULTS

Incremental PD use significantly increased from 2.7% of all incident PD in 2007 to 11.1% in 2017 (mean increase 0.84%/year). Duration of incremental PD use was 1 year or less in 67% of cases. Male sex, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) or Māori ethnicities, age 45-59 years, medical comorbidities or treatment at a centre with low use of automated PD or icodextrin was associated with lower incidence of incremental PD use. Low body mass index and higher estimated glomerular filtration rate was associated with higher incidence. After accounting for patient and centre variables, commencing PD with an incremental prescription was associated with reduced peritonitis risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61-0.86).When kidney transplantation and death were considered as competing risks, the association between incremental PD and peritonitis was not significant (sub-hazard ratio [SHR] 0.91, 95%CI 0.71-1.17, p = 0.5), however cumulative incidence of 30-day transfer to haemodialysis was lower in those receiving incremental PD (SHR 0.73, 95%CI 0.56-0.94, p = 0.01). There was no association between incremental PD and death.

CONCLUSIONS

Incremental PD use is increasing in Australia and New Zealand and is not associated with patient harm.

Patient perspectives on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the PD catheter: Strategies and Solutions

INTRODUCTION

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter complications reduce quality of life and increase risks for hospitalizations, for unplanned transitions to haemodialysis and for death. Patient PD catheter management is crucial for safe, sustained PD. Patient perspectives on strategies for living with PD and using a PD catheter may inform efforts to reduce PD catheter complications, increase individual patient PD modality persistence, and thus increase overall home dialysis prevalence.

METHODS

We interviewed 32 adult PD patients in Nashville, Tennessee. Qualitative analyses included (1) isolation of themes, (2) development of a coding system and (3) creation of a conceptual framework using an inductive-deductive approach.

RESULTS

Challenges identified by patients as important included drain pain, difficulty eating and sleeping, and fear of peritonitis. Coping strategies included repositioning while draining, adjusting eating patterns, and development of PD patient and helper knowledge and confidence, especially at home after initial training. Patients described a trial-and-error iterative process of trying multiple strategies with input from multiple sources, which led to individualised solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

The trial-and-error process may be crucial for maintaining PD. Individual patient success with PD may be promoted by creating expectations during training that a solution may require multiple attempts, and by a reimbursement policy that supports robust nursing support for safe progression through the trial-and-error process, particularly in the first few months for incident patients. Interventions to support patient motivation and optimal coping behaviour may also support an increase in PD modality duration for individual patients, and thus increase overall PD prevalence.

Epidemiology of peritoneal dialysis outcomes

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important home-based treatment for kidney failure and accounts for 11% of all dialysis and 9% of all kidney replacement therapy globally. Although PD is available in 81% of countries, this provision ranges from 96% in high-income countries to 32% in low-income countries. Compared with haemodialysis, PD has numerous potential advantages, including a simpler technique, greater feasibility of use in remote communities, generally lower cost, lesser need for trained staff, fewer management challenges during natural disasters, possibly better survival in the first few years, greater ability to travel, fewer dietary restrictions, better preservation of residual kidney function, greater treatment satisfaction, better quality of life, better outcomes following subsequent kidney transplantation, delayed need for vascular access (especially in small children), reduced need for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, and lower risk of blood-borne virus infections and of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PD outcomes have been improving over time but with great variability, driven by individual and system-level inequities and by centre effects; this variation is exacerbated by a lack of standardized outcome definitions. Potential strategies for outcome improvement include enhanced standardization, monitoring and reporting of PD outcomes, and the implementation of continuous quality improvement programmes and of PD-specific interventions, such as incremental PD, the use of biocompatible PD solutions and remote PD monitoring.

The use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) can be advantageous compared with haemodialysis treatment, although several barriers limit its broad implementation. This review examines the epidemiology of peritoneal dialysis (PD) outcomes, including clinical, patient-reported and surrogate PD outcomes.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has distinct advantages compared with haemodialysis, including the convenience of home treatment, improved quality of life, technical simplicity, lesser need for trained staff, greater cost-effectiveness in most countries, improved equity of access to dialysis in resource-limited settings, and improved survival, particularly in the first few years of initiating therapy.

Important barriers can hamper PD utilization in low-income settings, including the high costs of PD fluids (owing to the inability to manufacture them locally and the exorbitant costs of their import), limited workforce availability and a practice culture that limits optimal PD use, often leading to suboptimal outcomes.

PD outcomes are highly variable around the world owing in part to the use of variable outcome definitions, a heterogeneous practice culture, the lack of standardized monitoring and reporting of quality indicators, and kidney failure care gaps (including health care workforce shortages, inadequate health care financing, suboptimal governance and a lack of good health care information systems).

Key outcomes include not only clinical outcomes (typically defined as medical outcomes based on clinician assessment or diagnosis) — for example, PD-related infections, technique survival, mechanical complications, hospitalizations and PD-related mortality — but also patient-reported outcomes. These outcomes are directly reported by patients and focus on how they function or feel, typically in relation to quality of life or symptoms; patient-reported outcomes are used less frequently than clinical outcomes in day-to-day routine care.

El hogar recinto para sostener la vida sujeta a diálisis peritoneal: experiencia de cuidadores familiares

Introducción: Cuidar en el hogar a una persona con tratamiento de diálisis peritoneal implica esfuerzo, aprendizaje, lograr habilidades, controlar el entorno, así como ser rigurosos en la realización del procedimiento. Sin embargo, se necesita el seguimiento permanente de las enfermeras para evitar complicaciones y lograr la participación familiar para que el cuidador no se agote.Objetivo: Analizar las experiencias de los cuidadores familiares de pacientes sujetos a diálisis peritoneal en el hogar.Material y Método: Investigación cualitativa, descriptiva en la cual participaron 12 cuidadores familiares de adultos jóvenes con tratamiento de diálisis peritoneal, muestra obtenida por criterios de saturación, redundancia y por conveniencia. Para la recogida de datos se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada validada por juicio de expertos y aprobada por Comité de Ética. Los datos recogidos fueron procesados por análisis de contenido temático de forma artesanal.Resultados: a) Capacitación, adquisición de habilidades y satisfacción, b) Cuidados para la diálisis peritoneal: ambiente, materiales, bioseguridad y complicaciones, c) Beneplácitos y disconformidades en la permanencia del apoyo familiar.Conclusiones: Los cuidadores familiares valoran de forma positiva la capacitación recibida por las enfermeras, adecuan la habitación del paciente y utilizan algunos materiales propios del hogar y conforme pasa el tiempo logran habilidades para realizar la diálisis peritoneal. Mantienen el orden, la limpieza, las medidas de bioseguridad y siguen el procedimiento para evitar complicaciones. Algunos cuidadores reconocen el apoyo de la familia ya sea emocional, espiritual, económico o con las tareas del hogar.

Why Peritoneal Dialysis is Underutilized in the United States: A Review of Inequities

Given a choice, most patients with end-stage renal disease prefer home dialysis over in-center hemodialysis (HD). Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a home dialysis method and offers benefits such as absence of central venous access and therefore preservation of veins, low cost, and decreased time per dialysis session, as well as convenience. Survival rate for patients on PD has increased to levels comparable to in-center HD. Despite endorsement by leaders in the medical field, professional societies, and those in government, PD has reached only 11% adoption among incident patients according to the 2019 United States Renal Data System Annual Data Report. This figure is dwarfed in comparison to rates as high as 79% in other countries. In addition, research has shown that inequities exist in PD access, which are most pronounced in rural, minority, and low-income regions as demonstrated by trends in regional PD supplies. To complicate things further, technique failure has been implicated as a major determinant of poor PD retention rates. The low initiation and retention rates of PD in the United States points to barriers within the healthcare system, many of which are in the early phases of being addressed.

Using an international online forum to explore perspectives of caregivers of patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience significant burden of care. Online forums provide an important platform for peer connection and expression of perspectives and concerns, but have not been used to capture consumer experiences in CKD research. Social support can improve caregivers' quality of life, with emerging research exploring online social support.

METHOD

This study employed qualitative content analysis to examine 159 posts on an online international forum: Caregivers of Patients with Kidney Disease to examine the experiences and concerns raised by caregivers of patients with CKD. Posts were coded using verbatim words and phrases, then arranged into three overarching themes, 12 categories and 71 sub-categories.

RESULTS

The overarching themes were Impact to Carer Wellbeing; Use of Online Social Support; Caregiver Knowledge. Online posts highlighted the psychological and physical challenges for caregivers of patients with CKD including social isolation, helplessness and the impact to paid employment. Participants used online social support to connect with peers and seek advice from the forum community on topics including: the patient's diet; clinical management; CKD symptoms; and how to support the patient to adhere to diet and medications.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insight into gaps in caregiver knowledge and their need to seek online peer support. Caregiver forums can inform support strategies from healthcare professionals to increase caregiver involvement in treatment and education options, as well as tangible assistance to support caregivers' and patients' needs, such as transportation services for dialysis patients.

Challenges, Facilitators, and Recommendations for Implementation of Home Dialysis in the Veterans Health Administration: Patient, Caregiver, and Clinician Perceptions

Background

Home dialysis confers similar survival and greater quality of life than in-center hemodialysis for adults with ESKD but remains underutilized. We examined challenges and facilitators to implementation of home dialysis and identified stakeholder-centered strategies for improving it.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative, cross-sectional, multisite evaluation that included five geographically dispersed Veterans Health Administration (VHA) home dialysis programs. Participants included patients with ESKD receiving home dialysis, their informal caregivers, and home dialysis staff. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted and audio-recorded from 2017 through 2018, to assess perceived barriers and facilitators to patient home dialysis use in VHA. Transcribed interviews were analyzed thematically by each participant group.

Results

Participants included 22 patients receiving home dialysis (18 on peritoneal dialysis [PD] and four hemodialysis [HD]); 20 informal caregivers, and 19 home dialysis program staff. Ten themes emerged as challenges to implementing home dialysis, of which six (60%) spanned all groups: need for sterility, burden of home dialysis tasks, lack of suitable home environment, physical side effects of home dialysis, negative psychosocial effects of home dialysis, and loss of freedom. Four themes (40%), identified only by staff, were insufficient self-efficacy, diminished peer socialization, geographic barriers, and challenging health status. Twelve themes emerged as facilitators to implementing home dialysis, of which seven (58%) spanned all groups: convenience, freedom, avoidance of in-center HD, preservation of autonomy, adequate support, favorable disposition, and perceptions of improved health. Two themes (17%) common among patients and staff were adequate training and resources, and physical and cognitive skills for home dialysis. Recommendations to promote implementation of home dialysis common to all participant groups entailed incorporating mental health care services, offering peer-to-peer coaching, increasing home visits, providing health data feedback, and reducing patient burden.

Conclusions

Stakeholder-centered challenges were rigorously identified. Facilitators and recommendations can inform efforts to support home dialysis implementation.