Renal replacement therapy: available information versus demands of patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the current state of information on renal replacement therapy and the educational demands of kidney transplant recipients.


METHODS
The study was conducted through a survey. The questionnaire of this study was developed by researchers and was completed by 72 kidney recipients.


RESULTS
The recipients were most frequently informed of hemodialysis (87.5%), followed by kidney transplantation (69.4%) or peritoneal dialysis (48.6%) as a modality of renal replacement therapy at the time of diagnosis of chronic renal failure. Information about kidney transplantation was provided when they were diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD; 33.3%) or right after initiation of dialysis (15.3%) or a few years thereafter (9.7%). They were informed about kidney transplantation mostly by transplantation surgeons (mean degree score = 3.1 ± 1.3; range, 1-4), followed in order by transplant coordinators, nephrologists, family members, other patients, artificial kidney unit nurses, and mass media or internet. Regarding the influence of the information on their decision to receive a transplant, the mean score was 3.2 ± 1.2 (range, 1-5). Also, kidney transplantation was evaluated as the best renal replacement therapy for work, pregnancy/delivery, traveling, and diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients diagnosed with ESRD are not fully informed of transplantation as a primary optimal renal replacement therapy for their quality of life.
The Research Institute for Transplantation, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
D J
DJ
Joo
S
S
Son
H J
HJ
Kim
J E
JE
Lee
J Y
JY
You
S Y
SY
Lee
M S
MS
Kim
S I
SI
Kim
Y S
YS
Kim
D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists