Our client would like to find out how patients feel about Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), and how patients who are currently undergoing dialysis choose their treatment option. The study also aims to examine the extent of influence of the stakeholders involved in their dialysis journey. The client would also like to increase the uptake of PD by identifying the current challenges and experiences faced by dialysis patients and caregivers.

Approach

We employed various methodologies to survey 355 patients and caregivers in Singapore. These methodologies include: Online Survey, Telephone Survey, Mail Survey as well as Face-to-Face (F2F) Survey.

The patients included a mix of Peritoneal Dialysis and Haemodialysis patients, as well as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients. We recruited CKD patients via a variety of channels including recruitment posters, community groups, and through snowballing.

From the Results

• CKD and HD patients displayed a lack of familiarity and understanding of peritoneal dialysis as a treatment option.
• Healthcare professionals and informal support groups are where respondents first hear about their treatment options.
• The primary reason for choosing their current treatment option was because of its convenience and flexibility.

Application

We also provided recommendations to our client based on the feedback we received from the respondents. Some recommendations include:

• Concentrate efforts to promote peritoneal dialysis uptake before patients make a treatment choice
• Increased outreach and public education through legitimate institutions
• Addressing physical limitations with peritoneal dialysis
• Increasing technical support for peritoneal dialysis