Objectives: To pilot a questionnaire on routinely collected data of incident end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and their carers, evaluating information about treatment options provided by renal units, prior to a planned national audit.
Methods: The questionnaire was completed by pre-dialysis and chronic kidney disease coordinators in Australian renal units regarding information about treatment options given to ESKD patients. New patients included those commencing dialysis, pre-emptive transplant, or palliative care. Data were collected about the timing and type of information provided, who it was provided by and whether information was offered specifically for the patient’s carer. The study was approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee and endorsed by Kidney Health Australia.
Preliminary results: New ESKD patients (median age 61, 52% female, n=21) commenced centre haemodialysis as their first mode of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in 62% of cases; peritoneal dialysis (19%) and palliative care (19%). 67% received information about treatment options prior to RRT with a mean eGFR of 12.5 ml/min/1.73m2. Renal nurses provided information about treatment options for 95% of new patients and nephrologists to 67%. 62% of patients had a carer present when they received information and carer-specific information was given on an as-needs basis.
Conclusions: One third of new ESKD patients received information about treatment options after commencing RRT. This pilot study has demonstrated that the questionnaire is acceptable and can be used for the main study of a National Audit to be conducted over a 3 month period in 2009.