Patients' Perspectives on Access to Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation in Rural Communities in Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

This study aimed to describe the perspectives of patients from rural communities on access to all forms of kidney replacement therapy to inform strategies to address such inequity.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted. Transcripts were thematically analyzed.

Results

There were 28 participants, of whom, 14 (50%) were female and 5 (17%) Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The mean distance to a nephrologist was 107 km, and transplant center was 447 km. We identified the following 5 themes: encumbered by transportation hardship (burdening of family and friends, frustration at lack of transportation options, heightened vulnerability to road trauma, unrelenting financial strain); deprived of treatment and care (isolated from centralized services,

SUBMITTER: Scholes-Robertson N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8897297 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature