♦ BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is challenging for patients with functional limitations, and assisted PD can support these patients, but previous reports of assisted PD have not examined the role of temporary assisted PD and had difficulty identifying adequate comparator cohorts. ♦ METHODS: Peritoneal Dialysis Assist (PDA), a 12-month pilot of long-term and temporary assisted PD was completed in multiple PD centers in British Columbia, Canada. Continuous cycler PD (CCPD) patients were identified for PDA by standardized criteria, and service could be long-term or temporary/respite. The PDA program provided daily assistance with cycler dismantle and setup, but patients remained responsible for cycler connections and treatment decisions. Outcomes were compared against both the general CCPD population and patients who met PDA criteria but were not enrolled (PDA-eligible). ♦ RESULTS: Fifty-three PDA patients had an 88% 1-year death- and transplant-censored technique survival that was similar to the general CCPD cohort (84%) and PDA-eligible cohort (86%). The PDA cohort had lower peritonitis rates (0.18 episodes/patient-year vs 0.22 and 0.36, respectively), but higher hospitalization (55% vs 34% and 35%, respectively). Long-term PDA cost approximately CDN$15,000/year in addition to existing dialysis costs. A total of 8/11 respite PDA patients (73%) returned to self-care PD after a median PDA use of 29 days, which costs $1,250/patient. ♦ CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal Dialysis Assist provides effective support to functionally-limited CCPD patients and yields acceptable clinical outcomes. The program costs less than transfer to HD or long-term care, which represents cost minimization for failing self-care PD patients. Respite PDA provides effective temporary support; most patients returned to self-care PD and service was cost-effective compared with alternatives of hospitalization or transfer to HD.

Rationale, aims and objectives: Assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a proven intervention to support patients with functional limitations in performing home-based PD. Previous research has focused on clinical outcomes, but experiences with assisted PD have not been explored from the perspective of patients and providers. Through a 12-month pilot program called PD Assist (PDA), this study elicited these perspectives to improve the program. Methods: A 12-month pilot of PDA delivered by a contracted health service provider delivered across multiple PD units in British Columbia, Canada, was evaluated. A multi-source evaluation model was used, including the semi-structured qualitative feedback in this report. Patients and their families, PD staff and caregiver stakeholders involved in the PDA pilot project, participated in the feedback process. Qualitative feedback was codified and analyzed via a thematic approach to identify values, enablers, barriers and suggestions for PDA program improvement from the perspective of patients andproviders involved in PDA.Results: All stakeholder groups advocated for continuation of PDA services. Key reported values were patient independence, enhanced psychosocial support and relief of treatment-associated burden. Consistency and communication between involved parties were reported as enablers of success, while scheduling conflicts, geographic challenges and staffing inconsistency were viewed as barriers. Areas for program improvement included the need for more personalized services. Conclusions: Semi-structured qualitative feedback provided meaningful insights into the experiences of PDA among patients and providers that were an instrumental part of a successful pilot project and identified opportunities for further program improvement.

Background: The transition from choosing to initiating home dialysis therapies (HDTs) is not clearly standardized for patients and staff, causing increased anxiety and suboptimal self-management for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. At BC Renal, a “Transition to HDTs” guidebook (the Guide) was designed, outlining a step-wise approach to transitioning to HDTs for patients, to help address some of these concerns. Objective: We used the Logic Model evaluation framework to assess the value of the Guide to improve patient and staff experience with transitioning to HDTs. Design: This is a prospective cohort quality improvement study. Setting: This study took place at home dialysis programs in British Columbia, Canada, with 2 pilot sites and 2 control sites. Patients: Patients above age 18 who attended kidney care clinics and identified HDT as their renal replacement treatment of choice were included in this study. Measurements: Patient demographics were obtained from British Columbia Renal Patient Records and Outcomes Management Information System, with differences analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test where applicable. Patient surveys were based on Likert rating scales, analyzed using Cochran-Armitage trend test. All tests were 2-sided, with P < .05 considered significant. Methods: The study enrolled patients from December 2018 to April 2019 at 2 pilot and 2 control sites. Patients were followed up for 8 months. The intervention strategies included (1) training of front-line staff to use the Guide and (2) dissemination of the guide to patients. Evaluation tools measuring data at baseline and at the 8-month point included (1) qualitative and quantitative patient surveys, (2) qualitative staff surveys, (3) structured feedback session with renal care staff, and (4) transition rate and time between choosing and starting a HDT. Results: In total, 108 patients were enrolled: 43 patients at pilot sites and 65 in control sites. Twenty-three of 65 in control vs 18 of 43 in pilot transitioned to a HDT by 8-month follow-up. Transition time was 80 vs 89 days in pilot vs control group, but it was not statistically different ( P = .37). The proportion of patients that transitioned to a HDT was 42% vs 35% in pilot vs control group ( P = .497). Patients’ anxiety, illness knowledge, and activation of resources were not significantly different between patients who successfully transitioned at control and pilot sites. During interviews, patients confirmed that the Guide was effective and helped retain knowledge. The staff felt that the intervention did not increase their workload and that the Guide was a good communication tool, but was used inconsistently. Limitations: We had a small sample size and limited number of patients enrolled who chose home hemodialysis, with none in the control group. The results are therefore more applicable to peritoneal dialysis. Conclusions: The Logic Model was useful to evaluate our multi-intervention strategy. While there were no statistically significant differences in transition time, rate, and patient anxiety with or without the Guide, qualitative opinions from patients indicate that the Guide was a useful supplement. In addition, feedback from renal care staff suggested that the Guide served as a framework for communicating the transition process with patients, and was perceived as a useful tool. Future work is required to standardize the Guide’s utilization. Trial registration: As this is a quality improvement evaluation study, trial registration is not applicable.

Background: In 2016, Peritoneal Dialysis Assist (PDA) was implemented in British Columbia, Canada, as a pilot program to allow patients with physical, cognitive and social impairments to access an independent dialysis modality. This is a presentation of the usage and 5-year clinical outcomes of our provincial assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD) program. Methods: Patients who utilised long-term or respite PDA services in British Columbia, Canada, from 2016 to 2021 were included in this program evaluation. Incident and prevalent patient numbers were characterised annually as well as indications for PDA and patient demographics both annually and over time. Outcomes of interest included death, transfer to haemodialysis, transplantation and cessation of the PDA program but retention on PD. Results: Three hundred twenty-two total patients received services through the PDA program. The percentage of PD patients supported by long-term PDA service has grown to 11.2% in the most recent year. Patients spend a median of 13.6 (95% CI: 11.0, 16.1) months on long-term PDA, prolonging overall patient duration on PD by a little over a year. Of the patients who exited the long-term PDA program, 73 (37.4%) were able to utilise the service until they died. Conclusion: PDA is an accessible, patient-centric service with clear and standardised referral criteria. Through the implementation of a local PDA program, patients have accessed PD and may have extended their PD life span, through avoidance of in-centre haemodialysis, by over 13 months during this 5-year study period. A significant proportion of patients on long-term PDA were able to use their preferred kidney replacement modality at home until they reached end of life.

SUMMARYA trial was carried out to determine if walking unpremedicated patients to the operating theatre would prove acceptable to the patients. One hundred surgical patients from a short‐stay ward were randomised into experimental (walked to theatre by ward nurse) and control (taken to theatre on a hospital trolley) groups. Seventy‐eight patients responded to a questionnaire; a large majority indicated they would like to be given the choice of mode of conveyance and perceived this as an improvement in patient care. The results showed that a more favourable impression of walking to the theatre was given by patients who had actually experienced it, and of those given the opportunity to walk, almost all reported that it made them feel more relaxed. The findings are discussed in relation to patient choice, efficiency gains and a reduction in manual handling.