Nurse-assisted arterio-venous fistula cannulation during home hemodialysis: first results of the DIADIDEAL study / La ponction de fistule assistée par infirmier libéral en hémodialyse à domicile : premiers résultats de l'étude DIADIDEAL.

Introduction: We have launched a pilot study, called DIADIDEAL, to propose nurse-assistance at home for arterio-venous fistula (AVF) cannulation in home hemodialysis (HHD) patients. The aim of the present study was to describe enrollment of the patients and their nurses. Materials: All prevalent HD patients on 30th November 2018 with no medical contraindication to HDD treatment and all incident patients on dialysis from the 30th November 2018 to the 21st April 2023 were eligible. Results: Among 155 prevalent HD patients, 4 patients were included. Among the 276 incident patients on dialysis during the study period, 6 were included. We have phoned 23 nurse centers during the recruitment period. Eight of them agreed to learn in our unit how to cannulate AVF; 27 private nurses were enrolled. Discussion: The results of the DIADIDEAL study will be available in 2024; we hope it will lead to a reimbursement of nurse-AVF cannulation at home in HDD.

Introduction: L'étude DIADIDEAL est une étude pilote sur la ponction de fistule artério-veineuse (FAV) assistée par infirmier libéral en hémodialyse à domicile (HDD). L'objectif de l'étude actuelle est de rapporter le recrutement des patients et de leurs infirmiers diplômés d'État libéraux (IDEL). Matériels et méthodes: Tous les patients prévalents en HD au 30 novembre 2018 n'ayant pas de contre-indication médicale à un traitement par HDD ainsi que tous les patients incidents en dialyse du 30 novembre 2018 au 21 avril 2023 étaient éligibles. Résultats: Parmi les 155 patients prévalents en hémodialyse, 4 ont été inclus. Parmi les 276 patients incidents en dialyse sur la période, 6 ont été inclus dans l'étude. Parmi les 23 cabinets IDEL contactés pour l'étude, 8 ont accepté et 27 IDEL ont été formés à la ponction de FAV. Discussion: Les résultats de l'étude DIADIDEAL seront disponibles en 2024 et viseront à obtenir une nomenclature pour l'acte de ponction de FAV par les IDEL.

[Training and follow-up of the dialysis patient at home]. / Formation et suivi du patient en dialyse à domicile.

Regardless of the home dialysis technique, training of the patient or caregivers is necessary. Formalized over several weeks, this is carried out by an expert nursing team. The patient must acquire the skills and knowledge to be able to dialyse effectively at home, in optimal conditions of safety.

[Dialysis at home, from my place to ours]. / La dialyse à domicile, du chez-soi au chez-nous.

The patient being cared for at home should be considered with his entourage. In the case of dialysis, the relative is involved and his relationship with the patient becomes more complex, because the patient is in a situation of increased dependency. Hence, the relative is a fully-fledged partner in home haemodialysis, particularly in the decision-making process. Support from professionals helps to rebalance this relationship, if necessary.

Perceptions and Practices of Nephrology Nurses Working in Home Dialysis: An International Survey.

Globally, home dialysis prevalence has been declining relative to the increase in end stage renal disease and renal replacement therapy. The goal of this study was to identify international perceptions and practices. A web-based questionnaire was disseminated to nephrology nurses in 30 home dialysis-prevalent nations. Global telehealth use was low (23%), contrasting with 83% respondents agreeing telehealth would improve care. Only 31% of all programs enabled patient training outside of normal working hours (e.g., nights and weekends), and 31% of all program patients had some cost reimbursement, with a significant difference between U.S. and non-U.S. programs (U.S. 11%, non-U.S. 59%, 2 = 93.6, p < 0.0001). Significant differences in the need for monthly clinic visits (U.S. 72%, non-US 44%, 2 = 83.7, p < 0.0001) were also found. Telehealth provision and patient training flexibility is limited, and patient cost reimbursement is low. Increased telehealth, patient cost reimbursement, and flexible training models may promote home dialysis growth.

Nurses' elicitation of patient error as a practice in training end-stage renal patients in automated home peritoneal dialysis.

As part of a reorganisation of the delivery of health care in Denmark therapies for chronic medical conditions are moved out of hospitals and disease-specific patient education programmes instituted to train patients to assume responsibility for treating their disease at home, that is, perform tasks and functions traditionally done by healthcare professionals. Drawing on video-recordings (90:25h) from a programme for self-management of end-stage renal disease through automated home peritoneal dialysis, the study employs conversation analysis to examine nurses' instructional practices for providing patients with the necessary knowledge, skill and competences. Showing training to rely on an error-based monitoring strategy, the study demonstrates that rather than solely waiting for random errors to emerge, nurses on occasion steer patients towards specific errors to bring about particular instructional opportunities. Surprising given the seriousness of the therapy, this elicitation of error is shown to reflect a deliberate instructional choice; nurses promote select errors to impart patients with an understanding of the procedural logic behind the therapy and medical technology. The study argues that training patients for chronic disease self-management and providing them with a proficiency level, normally associated with certified professionals, necessitates pushing patients beyond what is strictly accurate and exposing them to medically delicate events.

Renal telemedicine through video-as-a-service delivered to patients on home dialysis: A qualitative study on the renal care team members' experience.

BACKGROUND: The Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK has been providing renal care through video-as-a-service (VAAS) to patients since 2013, with support from the North West NHS Shared Infrastructure Service, a collaborative team that supports information and communication technology use in the UK National Health Service. INTRODUCTION: Renal telemedicine offered remotely to patients on home dialysis supports renal care through the provision of a live high-quality video link directly to unsupported patients undergoing haemodialysis at home. Home haemodialysis is known to provide benefits to patients, particularly in making them more independent. The use of a telemedicine video-link in Lancashire and South Cumbria, UK, further reduces patient dependence on the professional team. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to present the perspectives of the renal care team members using the renal telemedicine service to understand the perceived benefits and issues with the service. METHOD: Ten semi-structured interviews with members of the renal care team (two renal specialists, one matron, two renal nurses, one business manager, one renal technical services manager, two IT technicians and one hardware maintenance technician) were conducted. Thematic analysis was undertaken to analyse the qualitative data. RESULTS: A range of incremental benefits to the renal team members were reported, including more efficient use of staff time, reduced travel, peace of mind and a strong sense of job satisfaction. Healthcare staff believed that remote renal care through video was useful, encouraged concordance and could nurture confidence in patients. Key technological issues and adjustments which would improve the renal telemedicine service were also identified. CONCLUSION: The impact of renal telemedicine was positive on the renal team members. The use of telemedicine has been demonstrated to make home dialysis delivery more efficient and safe. The learning from staff feedback could inform development of services elsewhere.

Educational strategies and challenges in peritoneal dialysis: a qualitative study of renal nurses' experiences.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to explore renal nurses' experiences, strategies and challenges with regard to the patient education process in peritoneal dialysis. BACKGROUND: Patient education in peritoneal dialysis is essential to developing a successful home-based peritoneal dialysis program. In this area research is scarce and there is a particular lack of focus on the perspective of the renal nurse. DESIGN: Qualitative design formed by thematic qualitative text analysis. METHODS: Five group interviews (n = 20) were used to explore the challenges peritoneal dialysis nurses face and the training strategies they use. The interviews were analyzed with thematic qualitative content analysis using deductive and inductive subcategory application. RESULTS: The findings revealed the education barriers perceived by nurses that patients may face. They also showed that using assessment tools is important in peritoneal dialysis patient education, as is developing strategies to promote patient self-management. There is a need for a deeper understanding of affective learning objectives, and existing teaching activities and materials should be revised to incorporate the patient's perspective. Patients usually begin having questions about peritoneal dialysis when they return home and are described as feeling overwhelmed. Adapting existing conditions is considered a major challenge for patients and nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The results provided useful insights into the best approaches to educating peritoneal dialysis patients and served to raise awareness of challenges experienced by renal nurses. Findings underline the need for nosogogy - an approach of teaching adults (andragogy) with a chronic disease. Flexibility and cooperation are competencies that renal nurses must possess. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Still psychomotor skills dominate peritoneal dialysis patient training, there is a need of both a deeper understanding of affective learning objectives and the accurate use of (self-)assessment tools, particularly for health literacy.

Tattoo of vascular cannulation site as a self-cannulation aid.

BACKGROUND: Haemodialysis can be provided either in a healthcare setting or home environment. Patients receiving dialysis at home report a better quality of life. Patients or their carers must be able to cannulate their fistula confidently and independently when dialysing at home. METHOD: We describe a patient with a functional fistula which was difficult to palpate, leading to difficulties in cannulation and multiple referrals to the home therapies team. PROCEDURE: A series of discrete dots were tattooed to delineate the borders of the fistula and served to guide cannulation. RESULTS: Following this simple intervention, our patient was able to self-cannulate confidently, dialysing at home four times per week. There were no further referrals to the home therapies team. CONCLUSION: Permanent tattoo of the skin to guide cannulation can used when a fistula is difficult to palpate or if a further superficialisation procedure is not desired. Patients have to be made aware that the markings are permanent and might outlast the fistula.

Mothers requiring dialysis: parenting and end-stage kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Mothers requiring dialysis to treat end-stage kidney disease face the challenging demands of the disease and dialysis treatment in addition to their role as a parent. OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of mothers who require haemodialysis. METHODS: Four mothers receiving haemodialysis treatment for end-stage kidney disease in regional Australia were interviewed to explore the mothers' experiences, attitudes, beliefs and values of their dual role as mothers and haemodialysis recipients. RESULTS: The overarching theme emerging from the data was the competing roles of motherhood and dialysis. Four key sub-themes emerged: fitting everything in, internal family challenges, lost connections and striving for normality. CONCLUSION: Being a mother adds a range of complexities to being on dialysis. While managing dialysis, mothers struggle to care for their children and stay connected with family life. Nephrology health professionals are uniquely placed to support mothers and need to develop strategies to ease their burdens of care.

Increasing home dialysis knowledge through a web-based e-learning program.

AIM: There has been a global decline in the uptake of home-based dialysis therapies in the past 20 years. The ability to provide appropriate information to potential patients in this area may be confounded by a lack of knowledge of home dialysis options. The aim of this study was to develop a web-based education package for health professionals to increase knowledge and positive perceptions of home-based dialysis options. METHODS: A three-module e-learning package concerning home dialysis was developed under the auspices of the home dialysis first project. These modules were tested on 88 undergraduate health professionals. Changes in attitudes and knowledge of home dialysis were measured using custom designed surveys administered electronically to students who completed the modules. Matched pre and post responses to the survey items were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS: The pre survey indicated clear deficits in existing knowledge of home dialysis options. In particular, when asked if haemodialysis could be performed at home, 22% of participants responded 'definitely no' and a further 24% responded 'probably no'. Upon completion of the e-learning, post survey responses indicated statistically significant improvements (P < 0.001) in eight of the nine items. When asked if the e-learning had increased their knowledge about home dialysis, 99% of participants responded 'definitely yes'. CONCLUSION: A suite of web-based education modules can successfully deliver significant improvements in awareness and knowledge around home dialysis therapies.

Needs, concerns, strategies, and advice of daily home hemodialysis caregivers.

Improved patient outcomes have led to increased international interest in daily home hemodialysis as a kidney replacement therapy. Daily home hemodialysis often requires the assistance of a caregiver during and between treatments. Understanding the needs and concerns of caregivers of persons on daily home hemodialysis will inform the design of supportive interventions to improve caregiver retention and maintain their health and well-being. Using a descriptive qualitative design, the purpose of this study was to identify and describe the needs, concerns, strategies, and advice of family caregivers. Twenty-one caregivers were interviewed; five of these individuals were former caregivers of patients who had returned to outpatient hemodialysis. Data were collected via audio-recorded telephone interviews following a semistructured interview guide with five open-ended questions. A content analysis approach was used to code and analyze the data. Caregivers described needs, concerns, and strategies and offered advice in five predetermined major categories. Major findings included a need for respite services and a need for interventions to manage the emotional responses to caregiving. This study provides valuable information about relevant areas to consider when developing an intervention program for daily home hemodialysis caregivers.

[The relevance of a patient education programme for self-management of home peritoneal dialysis]. / Il ruolo degli infermieri nella dialisi peritoneale.

INTRODUCTION: Nursing care is an essential part of the management of patients undergoing home peritoneal dialysis. The institution of an educational pathway facilitates ease and safety of self-management of peritoneal dialysis (PD) procedures. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relevance of a nurse-guided training programme for PD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A questionnaire regarding quality of life was administered to patients undergoing PD at the Cardinal Massaia Hospital in Asti, Italy. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used with the adjunct of some study- specific questions. Prior research of relevant Pubmed references had also been performed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our data confirm other works in the literature emphasising the central role of nurses during educational processes involving PD patients. The quality of life of these patients improved notably when compared to controls who had not followed an education programme. In fact, a higher average quality of life was reported by patients enrolled in our study when compared to that found in other studies. Nurses involved in our PD educational programme follow international guideline sources. CONCLUSION: Patient education is a fundamental and on-going part of the process of nursing care and contributes to the well-being, safety, independence and compliance of patients undergoing PD at home.