Modality Retention in Peritoneal Dialysis

Background: The cost of health care for end-stage kidney disease patients has exponentially increased over the years, costing 91,000 annually per patient. Peritoneal dialysis has proven to be a cost-effective renal replacement therapy compared to in-center hemodialysis. Quality evidence from a systematic literature review indicates that peritonitis is one of the leading causes of patients' ability to maintain peritoneal dialysis. Evidence suggests that enhanced patient education on infection control practices beyond standard education effectively reduces peritonitis incidents. Methods: Enhanced education on infection control practices was delivered to 18 peritoneal dialysis patients in Southern Arizona through the application of determinants of the Health Belief Model utilizing the principles of the ADKAR framework. Data analysis will be available through facility-specific quality metrics of decreased peritonitis and modality loss episodes. Each of these measures is to have data compared to pre/post-intervention. Results: All participants in the study were able to sustain peritoneal dialysis as their renal replacement therapy. Of the 18 participants, one patient episode of peritonitis occurred three months before the intervention, and zero episodes were reported during the first three months of monthly infection control education. Facility-specific peritonitis and modality loss measures are not available until after project publication. Conclusion: To decrease peritonitis rates and modality loss, the intervention will continue for eight to 12 months to determine success. More time is needed to determine if patients adhere to monthly infection control practices taught during enhanced education.