ASSISTED PD：Problems and Countermeasures Based on Home-Visit Nursing Station Surveys

Abstract

[Objective] To investigate factors hindering the spread of assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD) to support elderly patients in Japan, a survey of PD acceptance at home nursing stations was administered. [Method] A questionnaire survey was conducted involving 616 home-visit nursing stations in Aichi Prefecture, 368 of which were registered with the Aichi Medical Association or Aichi Council of Home-Visit Nursing Stations. [Results] A total of 132 facilities were surveyed, for a collection rate of 35％. The breakdown was as follows：37 home nursing stations were accepting PD patients, 59 were considering accepting PD patients, and 20 were not considering accepting PD patients. A total of 20％ of the facilities were always involved in PD patient visits. Other facilities had only a few opportunities to see PD patients per year. The most common conditions for acceptance by visiting nurses were："medication management" and "emotional support," followed by "PD-bag exchange" and "exit site care". The most common considerations for acceptance were："preparation of APD cycler" and "monitoring the operation of APD equipment," such as preparation of APD equipment. [Conclusion] In order for home health care nurses, who are key personnel in ASSISTED PD, to be able to accept PD patients without anxiety, collaboration and multidisciplinary cooperation, such as joint visits and sharing of care methods with medical staff at PD treatment facilities, are required.