| Theme | PD for elderly patients -- current status of "assisted PD" and its future perspective in Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Actual and potential use of assisted PD : a questionnaire survey in Tokyo | |
| Publish Date | 2016/09 | |
| Author | Kazushige Hanaoka | Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, The 3rd Hospital of the Jikei University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | When elderly people become patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), they often experience many complications. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has several benefits for elderly patients, such as reduced need for clinic visits and easier control of food and water intake. However, there are some issues to account for when conducting PD, for example, physical disabilities and psychosocial problems in patients and lack of family members to assist in the operation of PD. If home-visiting nurses can help treat patients at home (assisted PD), some of these problems may be solved. We conducted a questionnaire survey to determine Tokyo home-visiting nursing stations' opinions about CKD and assisted PD. The results indicated that many home-visiting nursing stations neither recognized nor were ready to participate in PD therapy. Some stations were already involved in priming and changing PD bags, but most of them remained limited to checking general conditions and exit-site infections. The reasons why they hesitated to participate in assisted PD were anxiety about possible emergency conditions and a lack of trusting relationships with attending nephrologists. We have now tried to establish trusting relationships with home-visiting nursing stations through case study conferences and lecture courses. Some of the stations participate in the meetings and have become interested in assisted PD. |
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