The National Dialysis Census
The first National Dialysis Census was launched in Tasmania in August 2009 and will be roll out to other states over the next few months.
Consumers will receive a paper survey via their Dialysis Unit. For more info call 1800 4 KIDNEY (1800 4 543639) noting your query as ‘Dialysis Census’.
Kidney Health Australia has set up a national multidisciplinary working party to examine barriers and issues affecting the delivery of home dialysis therapies to Australians with kidney failure. In order to achieve this, the working party wishes to seek information and opinions on these important issues from consumers.
This is the first national census of people on dialysis. Kidney Health Australia has worked with consumers, healthcare professionals and researchers to design this census so that we can find out how and where people perform dialysis around Australia. It is very important to collect this information so that dialysis services can be continually improved.
We intend to conduct research to investigate dialysis consumers' perceptions, experiences and preferences of type of dialysis treatments and settings. Specifically the census will focus on:
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The experiences and views of consumers with End-Stage Kidney Failure (ESKF) and factors affecting their choice of hospital (in-centre) and satellite haemodialysis compared to home-based peritoneal dialysis and home-based haemodialysis.
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The psychosocial issues affecting consumers with ESKF that may affect their choice of dialysis treatment.
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Information provision; in particular the constraints to consumer information provision and the usefulness of the information, including situations where information materials were appropriate or inappropriate. This may also include the amount of information imparted to the patient on commencement of dialysis therapy.
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Identification of the infrastructure and resources that are required to enable people who choose home therapy to access necessary and appropriate support services.
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Identification of people where home therapy may not be a suitable option to enable appropriate resource allocation.
If you have queries or specific questions contact:
Mrs Lydia Lauder, National Manager, Strategic Health Projects and Publications on 03 9674 4306 or Lydia.lauder@kidney.org.au
We also wish to thank the many renal health professionals who participated in the supporting dialysis survey which recently closed.