Does Current Nephrology Fellowship Training Affect Uti-lization of Peritoneal Dialysis in the United States?

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DOI: 10.4236/ojneph.2013.32019    3,705 Downloads   6,208 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

Background: The 2010 US Renal Data System annual report revealed that peritoneal dialysis is used by only 7% of end-stage renal disease patients on chronic dialysis vs. hemodialysis which is used by 93% of such patients, despite documented benefits of peritoneal dialysis over hemodialysis in these cases. Purpose: We examined whether education of nephrology fellows contributed to underutilization of peritoneal dialysis in the US. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were administered electronically to nephrology fellowship training program directors, October 2010-March 2011 (55% response). Results: Median number of training faculty and patients/fellow were significantly lower for peritoneal-dialysis vs. hemodialysis training. Hours of didactic teaching for fellows over their 2-year training period were significantly lower for peritoneal dialysis vs. hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis training was 20% of total training vs. 80% for hemodialysis. Most program directors (87%) believed lack of trained faculty in peritoneal dialysis and insufficient peritoneal dialysis patient population contributed to inadequate fellows’ peritoneal dialysis training. Conclusions: Findings suggest that current nephrology fellowship training in peritoneal dialysis is inadequate and contributes to its underutilization.

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N. Wadhwa, C. Messina and N. Hebah, "Does Current Nephrology Fellowship Training Affect Uti-lization of Peritoneal Dialysis in the United States?," Open Journal of Nephrology, Vol. 3 No. 2, 2013, pp. 109-114. doi: 10.4236/ojneph.2013.32019.

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