Survey: most medical directors would choose HHD for themselves, use remains low

Survey: most medical directors would choose HHD for themselves but use remains low
4/23/2010

BioTrends Research Group Inc announced the publication of a new syndicated report, Special Report: Dialysis Modalities in the U.S. This report covers the use of various dialysis modalities including peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis, as well as attitudes and perceptions toward these modalities, advantages and disadvantages, ideal patient types, barriers to growth, and expected future use. The report is based on responses to an online survey completed by 78 dialysis center medical directors and 34 dialysis nurses. Qualitative interviews were also conducted with three PD and three home hemodialysis thought leaders.

In the report, medical directors said they recognize that alternative dialysis modalities to the traditional in-center option are under-used and they view the lack of patient interest as the largest barrier to increased use of home modalities. Thought leaders in this area said they felt that if nephrologists were more comfortable with these modalities, patients would be better educated about the options, and there would be an increased use of home modalities and that a significant number of patients who currently receive in-center hemodialysis are candidates for home therapies.

The majority of medical directors and dialysis nurses said they expect that their use of PD and HHD will increase in the near future, although the increase is likely to favor one modality over another. This change, they said, will be mainly financially driven in light of bundling.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of US dialysis patients are currently treated with in-center hemodialysis, 98% of the medical directors surveyed would choose a home modality for themselves if they needed dialysis.

http://www.nephronline.com/news.asp?N_ID=3760