Addressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise

Abstract Background Use of Home Dialysis (referring to both peritoneal and home haemodialysis throughout this study), is under-exploited and highly variable across Europe, and this is the case both within as well as between countries. Several, predominantly modifiable barriers have been described th...

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Main Authors: Simon J. Davies, Bert Bammens, Ilaria de Barbieri, Edwina A. Brown, Jan van Cruchten, Dani Gallego, Eric Goffin, Maurizio Gallieni, Sotiroula Gliki, Jeroen P. Kooman, Gert Meeus, May-Britt Moeslund-Hansen, Peter Rutherford, Raymond Vanholder, Martin Wilkie, Wim Van Biesen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:BMC Nephrology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04188-y
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author Simon J. Davies
Bert Bammens
Ilaria de Barbieri
Edwina A. Brown
Jan van Cruchten
Dani Gallego
Eric Goffin
Maurizio Gallieni
Sotiroula Gliki
Jeroen P. Kooman
Gert Meeus
May-Britt Moeslund-Hansen
Peter Rutherford
Raymond Vanholder
Martin Wilkie
Wim Van Biesen
author_facet Simon J. Davies
Bert Bammens
Ilaria de Barbieri
Edwina A. Brown
Jan van Cruchten
Dani Gallego
Eric Goffin
Maurizio Gallieni
Sotiroula Gliki
Jeroen P. Kooman
Gert Meeus
May-Britt Moeslund-Hansen
Peter Rutherford
Raymond Vanholder
Martin Wilkie
Wim Van Biesen
author_sort Simon J. Davies
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Use of Home Dialysis (referring to both peritoneal and home haemodialysis throughout this study), is under-exploited and highly variable across Europe, and this is the case both within as well as between countries. Several, predominantly modifiable barriers have been described that explain this inequity of access, but as yet no recommendations have been agreed upon as to how to address the problem. Methods A multi-disciplinary multi-organisational policy forum representing the key stakeholders was held at the EuroPD meeting in Bruges, November 2023 with the purpose of defining solutions and actions that the wider nephrology community should take to reduce disparities in access to home-based therapies. Three key themes were identified by a steering group prior to the forum: Dialysis Provider Motivation, Patient Empowerment and Training and Workforce Issues. Breakout discussion groups for each theme were asked to prioritise up to three actions per theme. These were further refined by the steering group and developed into proposed actions to be taken forward by the kidney failure community. Results 112 registrants attended the forum representing patients (5%), doctors, (57%) nurses, (13%) industry (7%) and various other roles (18%). The following actions were proposed: (1) a granular European audit of financial disincentives affecting decisions of policy makers, providers, patients and industry; (2) engaging national professional societies to challenge complacency towards uptake of home-based therapies; (3) stimulate networking to support small, inexperienced centres; (4) extending access to assisted peritoneal dialysis; (5) greater involvement of patients (locally and nationally) at every step, especially for advocacy; (6) empowering patients with transparent information; (7) mandating inclusion of training and exposure to Home Dialysis in national curricula; (8) promotion of career sub-specialists (doctors and nurses) with specific qualification in Home Dialysis; (9) promoting access to high quality training resources. Conclusions The kidney failure community can undertake a number of constructive actions to improve equity of access to Home Dialysis. The Policy Forum steering group who are representative of the key stakeholders have committed to taking this programme forward.
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spelling doaj-art-eaa3f056ac0a4b1dbb062c79ab6ab3662025-08-20T03:25:15ZengBMCBMC Nephrology1471-23692025-06-0126111010.1186/s12882-025-04188-yAddressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exerciseSimon J. Davies0Bert Bammens1Ilaria de Barbieri2Edwina A. Brown3Jan van Cruchten4Dani Gallego5Eric Goffin6Maurizio Gallieni7Sotiroula Gliki8Jeroen P. Kooman9Gert Meeus10May-Britt Moeslund-Hansen11Peter Rutherford12Raymond Vanholder13Martin Wilkie14Wim Van Biesen15School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and TransplantationUniversity of PadovaKidney and Transplant Services, Imperial College Healthcare NHS TrustEuropean Kidney Patients Federation (EKPF)European Kidney Patients Federation (EKPF)Department of Nephrology, Université Catholique de LouvainDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of MilanoSHSO Limassol and Paphos General Hospital, Associate Educator Nursing Education Sector Cyprus Ministry of Health and University of NicosiaDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital MaastrichtDepartment of Nephrology, Nederlandstalige Belgische Vereniging Voor Nefrologie (NBVN) (President), AZ Groeninge HospitalDialysis International, CEOVice President, Medical Affairs, VantiveEuropean Kidney Health AllianceSheffield Teaching Hospitals NHSRenal Division, Gent University HospitalAbstract Background Use of Home Dialysis (referring to both peritoneal and home haemodialysis throughout this study), is under-exploited and highly variable across Europe, and this is the case both within as well as between countries. Several, predominantly modifiable barriers have been described that explain this inequity of access, but as yet no recommendations have been agreed upon as to how to address the problem. Methods A multi-disciplinary multi-organisational policy forum representing the key stakeholders was held at the EuroPD meeting in Bruges, November 2023 with the purpose of defining solutions and actions that the wider nephrology community should take to reduce disparities in access to home-based therapies. Three key themes were identified by a steering group prior to the forum: Dialysis Provider Motivation, Patient Empowerment and Training and Workforce Issues. Breakout discussion groups for each theme were asked to prioritise up to three actions per theme. These were further refined by the steering group and developed into proposed actions to be taken forward by the kidney failure community. Results 112 registrants attended the forum representing patients (5%), doctors, (57%) nurses, (13%) industry (7%) and various other roles (18%). The following actions were proposed: (1) a granular European audit of financial disincentives affecting decisions of policy makers, providers, patients and industry; (2) engaging national professional societies to challenge complacency towards uptake of home-based therapies; (3) stimulate networking to support small, inexperienced centres; (4) extending access to assisted peritoneal dialysis; (5) greater involvement of patients (locally and nationally) at every step, especially for advocacy; (6) empowering patients with transparent information; (7) mandating inclusion of training and exposure to Home Dialysis in national curricula; (8) promotion of career sub-specialists (doctors and nurses) with specific qualification in Home Dialysis; (9) promoting access to high quality training resources. Conclusions The kidney failure community can undertake a number of constructive actions to improve equity of access to Home Dialysis. The Policy Forum steering group who are representative of the key stakeholders have committed to taking this programme forward.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04188-yPatient empowermentModality choiceTrainingHome dialysisWorkforcePeritoneal dialysis
spellingShingle Simon J. Davies
Bert Bammens
Ilaria de Barbieri
Edwina A. Brown
Jan van Cruchten
Dani Gallego
Eric Goffin
Maurizio Gallieni
Sotiroula Gliki
Jeroen P. Kooman
Gert Meeus
May-Britt Moeslund-Hansen
Peter Rutherford
Raymond Vanholder
Martin Wilkie
Wim Van Biesen
Addressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise
BMC Nephrology
Patient empowerment
Modality choice
Training
Home dialysis
Workforce
Peritoneal dialysis
title Addressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise
title_full Addressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise
title_fullStr Addressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise
title_full_unstemmed Addressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise
title_short Addressing the inequity of access to home Dialysis in Europe: recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise
title_sort addressing the inequity of access to home dialysis in europe recommendations for action informed by an international consensus exercise
topic Patient empowerment
Modality choice
Training
Home dialysis
Workforce
Peritoneal dialysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04188-y
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