Patients' perspectives of fluid management: A multicentre comparative study of home and incentre haemodialysis

Background

There is increasing worldwide interest in person-centred care in haemodialysis and home haemodialysis (HHD). Intradialytic fluid management is a vital component of haemodialysis, and often a shared decision, yet patients' perspectives and experience of related decisions are largely unexplored.

Objectives

To explore the perspectives of patients receiving home or incentre haemodialysis (IHD), in relation to intradialytic fluid management.

Design

A multicentre cross-sectional survey.

Participants

Eight hundred and thirty-nine patients receiving IHD and 99 patients receiving HHD, across six English renal units.

Measurements

Self-reported measures of understanding, experiences and control of fluid management, and willingness to achieve target weight. An objective test of patients' ability to relate common signs and symptoms to fluid overload or excessive ultrafiltration.

Results

Patients receiving HHD had greater knowledge than those receiving IHD (66.1% vs. 42.3%, p < 0.001) about causes of common signs and symptoms which remained when controlling for age, education and years since beginning haemodialysis. Patients receiving HHD felt more in control of and had greater self-reported adherence to fluid management (p < 0.01), yet knowledge gaps existed in both cohorts.

Conclusions

Greater patient knowledge and its practice in HHD may contribute to improved fluid balance and outcomes. Whilst patient selection may contribute towards these differences, the training patients receive when opting for HHD and subsequent experience are likely to be key contributing factors. Integrating aspects of education on fluid management from HHD training programmes should be considered in IHD, and further targeted, robust education remains an unmet need.