The importance of patient education in the treatment of chronic kidney disease.
The article by Finkelstein and colleagues is a seminal work in helping us to understand the educational needs of pre-end-stage renal disease (pre-ESRD) patients. There are currently major deficits in patients' perceived knowledge of their options for ESRD care. The Canadian system, with its more integrated and multidisciplinary approach to care, does a better job of communicating these options to patients. African Americans are less likely to be aware of their options.
Fox
Chester
C
Department of Family Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14215, USA. chetfox@gmail.com
Kohn
Linda S
LS
D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States