Effectiveness of home visits to pediatric peritoneal dialysis patients

Eileen N Ellis1, Christine Blaszak, Sherida Wright

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. elliseileenn@uams.edu

Insights

Home visits by nurses improve clinical care for pediatric patients on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (PD). These visits identify key findings and may reduce peritonitis rates, offering a cost-effective approach to home dialysis support.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Pediatric Care
  • Home Healthcare

Background:

  • Home visits are crucial for patients on home dialysis but their effectiveness is under-reported.
  • Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (PD) requires ongoing patient support and monitoring.
  • Pediatric patients on home PD present unique challenges in care management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness and clinical impact of home visits by trained nurses for pediatric patients undergoing continuous cycling PD.
  • To assess the types of findings identified during home visits and their impact on patient care.
  • To determine the cost-effectiveness of home visits compared to potential complications like peritonitis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of home visits conducted by a dialysis nurse for 22 pediatric PD patients.
  • Analysis of dialysis and medication findings identified during home visits.
  • Review of interdisciplinary team recommendations and impact on patient care and training.

Main Results:

  • An average of 1.5 dialysis and 1 medication finding per visit was documented.
  • Peritonitis rates showed a declining trend in the 6 months post-initiation of the home visit program (though not statistically significant).
  • The cost of a home visit was found to be less than the cost of treating one episode of peritonitis.

Conclusions:

  • Home visits by trained dialysis nurses are valuable for enhancing clinical care in pediatric patients on home PD.
  • The program identified significant clinical and medication-related findings, informing patient management.
  • Home visits represent a cost-effective strategy for improving outcomes in home dialysis care.

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