End-of-life care preferences and needs: perceptions of patients with chronic kidney disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Despite high mortality rates, surprisingly little research has been done to study chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients' preferences for end-of-life care. The objective of this study was to evaluate end-of-life care preferences of CKD patients to help identify gaps between current end-of-life care practice and patients' preferences and to help prioritize and guide future innovation in end-of-life care policy.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

A total of 584 stage 4 and stage 5 CKD patients were surveyed as they presented to dialysis, transplantation, or predialysis clinics in a Canadian, university-based renal program between January and April 2008.

Results

Participants reported relying on the nephrology staff for extensive end-of

SUBMITTER: Davison SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2827591 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature