Patient perspectives on informed decision-making surrounding dialysis initiation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Careful patient-clinician shared decision-making about dialysis initiation has been promoted, but few studies have addressed patient perspectives on the extent of information provided and how decisions to start dialysis are made.

Methods

Ninety-nine maintenance dialysis patients recruited from 15 outpatient dialysis centers in North Carolina completed semistructured interviews on information provision and communication about the initiation of dialysis. These data were examined with content analysis. In addition, informed decision-making (IDM) scores were created by summing patient responses (yes/no) to 10 questions about the decision-making.

Results

The mean IDM score was 4.4 (of 10; SD = 2.0); 67% scored 5 or lower. Age at the time of decision-making (r =

SUBMITTER: Song MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3811056 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature