Background: Renal replacement options or dialysis can be delivered in the home setting or hospital setting. Home dialysis offers a number of benefits over hospital-delivered dialysis. These advantages include improved quality of life, less travel, and fewer dietary restrictions. Despite the benefits, home-based dialysis therapies are significantly underutilized by First Nations with only 16.2% uptake versus 25.7% uptake in non-First Nations people in Saskatchewan. It is important to recognize that First Nations have a greater burden of end-stage renal disease including higher prevalence, younger age at diagnosis, increased severity of disease, mortality at an earlier age, and increased travel distance to access kidney services. Objective: The goal of this study is to identify the existing barriers to home peritoneal dialysis and provide insight for future programs in Saskatchewan First Nations communities in a culturally meaningful framework. Design: Through qualitative research utilizing sharing circles and individual interviews, barriers to utilizing home-based dialysis were identified. Setting: Four sharing circles were held and interviews were conducted with four First Nations dialysis patients. Participants: Total number of participants in sharing circles were 67. Sharing circles were composed of patients with chronic kidney disease, patients on hospital-based dialysis, patients on home-based peritoneal dialysis, family members, health care providers (nurses, physicians, dietitians, primary care director, and coordinators). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with four First Nations dialysis patients. Measurements: The data from the sharing circles and interviews were transcribed and analyzed by a PhD researcher using constructivist grounded theory, with elements of narrative inquiry to ascertain participants’ experiences of care. Data were coded and then grouped into categories using qualitative research software NVivo. Saturation of data was achieved. Methods: Documenting and recounting patient and community experience with chronic kidney disease through sharing circles involving patients, family members, and health care providers has been the central information base for this project. Qualitative interviews were conducted with patients who currently use home dialysis and those who travel to hospital for dialysis. Written consent was obtained from all participants. Information was gathered via audio recording of all sharing circles and interviews. Transcription of the interviews was completed with confidentiality maintained during transcription. Results: The main theme of our results was addressing the underutilization of home-based peritoneal dialysis in First Nations Communities. Five subthemes emerged from the main theme and included logistics, education and information, training and support, community support, and culture and leadership. Through sharing circles, a secondary theme of observations about living with chronic kidney disease and experiences of being on dialysis was explored. Limitations: A small number of First Nations communities were involved in this project, and although the data reached saturation, we cannot presume that the information is representative of all First Nations in Saskatchewan. There were a limited number of patients currently on home-based peritoneal dialysis, and therefore their perceptions may not be adequately captured. Participant characteristics (patient, caregiver, nurse, etc) were not captured when speaking in the sharing circles, and therefore participants are not classified when quoted. Conclusions: Strategies to help improve home-based dialysis included improved education, local support, integrated traditional medicine, cultural sensitivity, and leadership prioritization.

We present a case of milker’s nodules in a 41-year-old rancher from Saskatchewan, Canada, with secondary complications consisting of papular erythema and lymphadenopathy.

Blastomycosis is a primary pulmonary mycosis of humans usually affecting patients geographically located near the Great Lakes, Lake-of-the-Woods and northern Ontario. We report a case of cutaneous blastomycosis in a patient with no environmental contact outside of Saskatchewan.

In 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused major damage to Puerto Rico and had a dramatic impact on dialysis patients. There were high rates of migration off island, missed dialysis treatments and increased deaths. The magnitude is much greater than reports of hurricanes affecting the continental 50 U.S. states. Because most facilities were functional in a few days (16 of 17; 1 was severely damaged), the increase in missed treatments (and reduced treatment time) were likely due to hurricane impact on families and communities; loss of electricity, road closures, safety concerns. Increased deaths were likely due to the same, as well as limited access to food, health care, and potable water. Lessons learned may inform preparedness for future major hurricanes globally.