| [ Summary ] |
Guidelines help evaluate the immense amount of current scientific information to aid doctors and patients in making the best decisions based upon individual conditions. Furthermore, quality guidelines have been made public and by referencing these, it is possible that improvements in medicines and overall treatment can be made. A large number of guidelines regarding dialysis treatment originate in Europe and the United States. Treatment methods however, are affected by race, medical economics and cultural background. A large number of PD patients and frequent use of combined hemodialysis treatments are characteristics of Japanese care as compared to other countries. The level of PD treatment in Japan, if measured by the frequency of peritonitis, is very high based on a worldwide comparison. It is necessary to further improve upon this situation, through the creation of a “Japan PD Treatment Guideline”, evaluating evidence from Western guidelines, prevalent literature from throughout the world and weighing whether or not that information is appropriate for the Japanese population. |