Take Part In The American Association Of Kidney Patients Healthcare Survey

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Article Date: 18 Jun 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is looking for patients and family members to participate in an online survey. The survey will gage what type of pre-dialysis education patients are receiving prior to selecting a renal replacement therapy. The survey is located on the AAKP Web site, http://www.aakp.org/events/survey. It will look at who is providing patients with pre-dialysis education, how patients are receiving the information (classes, online, educations brochures, one-on-one counseling) and why patients choose a particular treatment modality over another.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have several treatment options from which to choose: transplant, in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and nocturnal dialysis. It is important to ensure patients approaching ESRD and their families are knowledgeable about the various options for renal replacement therapy. Pre-dialysis education has been shown to improve patient survival, reduce healthcare cost and give patients a sense of control of their healthcare choices.

"AAKP knows the best patient outcomes occur when patients are educated about their disease and its treatment methods," stated AAKP President Roberta Wager, RN, MSN. "The results of this survey will give us and other renal professionals a look at how we may be able to change, tweak or adjust how we are currently providing patients with pre-dialysis education to ensure patients are receiving as much information as possible and a balance view of their kidney disease treatment options."

Participation in the survey is FREE. Patients and family members are encouraged to participate. The survey should only take a few moments of participants' time and is easy to complete. Visit the AAKP Web site, http://www.aakp.org, and click on the orange survey box on the home page to view the survey. For more information, contact AAKP at (800) 749-AAKP or email Jolene Bussiere, Special Projects Coordinator at jbussiere@aakp.org. AAKP would like to thank Baxter Healthcare for sponsoring this program.

AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 35 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.

American Association of Kidney Patients