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.
Department of Family Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14215, USA. chetfox@gmail.com
Chester
C
Fox
Linda S
LS
Kohn
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