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Knowledge, understanding and experiences of peritonitis amongst patients, and their families, undertaking peritoneal
Jessica Baillie1, Paul Gill1, Molly Courtenay1
1School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, UK.
Insights
This study protocol investigates patient and family understanding of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis. Findings will inform better support for preventing and managing this common complication.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Patient Education
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Peritonitis is a significant complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), causing distress and potentially fatal outcomes.
- Patients often lack knowledge of peritonitis signs and symptoms, impacting adherence and outcomes.
- Limited understanding exists regarding UK patients' and families' experiences with PD-associated peritonitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine patients' and families' knowledge and experiences of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.
- To identify information needs for improved patient and family support.
- To enhance prevention, monitoring, and reporting of peritonitis.
Main Methods:
- A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study design.
- Phase One: Questionnaire assessing peritonitis knowledge and experience in PD patients across England and Wales.
- Phase Two: Semi-structured interviews with 30 participants to explore experiences in depth, analyzed thematically.
Main Results:
- (Study protocol, results pending)
- (Study protocol, results pending)
- (Study protocol, results pending)
Conclusions:
- Synthesizing data will identify crucial information gaps for patients and families.
- Findings will guide the development of targeted support strategies.
- Improved support aims to reduce peritonitis incidence and improve PD patient quality of life.
Aim:
This article is a report of a study protocol designed to examine patients' and families' knowledge and experiences of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.
Background:
Peritonitis is a considerable problem for people using peritoneal dialysis, leading to antibiotics, hospitalization and decreased quality of life. For some patients, peritonitis requires changing renal replacement therapy and can be fatal. Peritonitis is distressing and some patients are unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms. Patients with better knowledge of peritonitis and adherence to peritoneal dialysis procedures have lower rates of peritonitis. Little is known about patients' and families' knowledge and experience of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis in the United Kingdom.
Design:
Ethical approval was gained in March 2017. To meet the study aim, a two-phase sequential explanatory mixed methods study is proposed.
Methods:
Phase One: An author-developed questionnaire will be sent to patients using peritoneal dialysis at five sites in England and Wales. Patients will be asked to consider inviting a relative to participate. The questionnaire will assess peritonitis knowledge and experience. Data will be analysed statistically. Phase Two: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a purposive sample of Phase One participants (n = 30) to explore their experiences of peritonitis in further depth. The data will be analysed thematically using Wolcott's (1994) approach.
Discussion:
Data from the two phases will be synthesized to identify patients' and families' peritonitis information needs, to ensure they are appropriately supported to prevent, monitor, identify and report peritonitis.
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