Dialysis services for tourists to the Veneto Region: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The European Union has an established mechanism which enables patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) to receive dialysis abroad, allowing them to benefit from the legal right to freedom of movement. The number of patients seeking dialysis abroad has increased in recent years and the Veneto Region of Italy, a major tourist destination, has made significant investment in providing tourist haemodialysis services. AIMS: To understand the issues involved in providing dialysis services for tourists moving within the European Union, such as the experience of patients using the service, the challenges faced by professionals and patients and continuity of care. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Interviews were conducted with patients, health professionals and key stakeholders in two dialysis centres set up for tourists in the Veneto Region's Local Health Authority 10. RESULTS: The study uncovered high levels of patient satisfaction and a positive impact on patients' quality of life. However, the service faces a number of challenges relating to accessibility, language barriers and continuity of care for the patient when leaving Veneto. The study also demonstrates the importance of coordinating care prior to the tourists' stay. CONCLUSIONS: Tourist dialysis centres are necessary to make the right to freedom of movement for patients with ESKD a reality. The findings suggest that communicating and coordinating high-quality care across borders in the EU may be facilitated by increased standardisation of norms and documents for continuity of care, such as care plans and discharge summaries.

Bone density in children treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs for central precocious puberty.

Estrogens, growth hormones and IGFs are essential in the development and growth of the skeleton and for the maintenance of bone mass and density. Treatment of precocious puberty with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa), leads to a situation of hypoestrogenism by reducing sex-steroid levels, which, theoretically, may have a detrimental effect on bone mass during pubertal development. A reduction in bone mineral density during GnRHa treatment has been shown, but GnRHa treatment in patients with central precocious puberty does not seem to impair the achievement of normal peak bone mass at adult height. However, calcium supplementation is effective in improving bone densitometric levels and may promote better peak bone mass achievement.