Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSEducation scheme aids dialysis patients
A quality improvement initiative for patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) who are new to dialysis can reduce complications and significantly improve patient outcomes, suggest US researchers.
About 900 patients with ESRF participated in RightStart, a structured programme of education, close medical follow-up and self-empowerment. The programme was initiated within the first two weeks of starting dialysis and continued for up to three months.
The researchers, who compared the outcomes of the RightStart patients with over 1,000 new dialysis patients not using the programme, said that those using RightStart had better nutrition, less anaemia and were better educated about their condition.
One year after starting dialysis, RightStart patients also spent fewer days in hospital – an average of 7.2 days compared to 10.5 days for patients not using it.
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology online (2007) www.cjasn.asnjournals.org
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