[Assessment clinic and pre-dialysis information]

The objectives for the predialysis clinic were to help patients and their families cope with chronic renal failure and to provide information so that patients could choose the method of dialysis that best suited their lifestyle. The clinic was started on April 26, 1995. The patients' visits were divided into three phases. Phase one consisted of three visits to complete a biophysical, psychosocial assessment. A multidisciplinary team provided information to assist the patient and family understand renal disease as well as the options available for dialysis. The patients learned about continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), self-care hemodialysis, and in-centre hemodialysis. Criteria to start this phase one were chronic renal failure with a creatinine clearance rate of 20 ml/min. Phase one usually lasted two to three weeks.