Experiences of Iranian Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Regarding the Decision to Choose the Type of Kidney Replacement Therapy: A Qualitative Study

Peritoneal dialysis is a convenient and cost-effective way to replace kidney function in patients with kidney failure. Nevertheless, in Iran, a very small percentage of patients with kidney failure use peritoneal dialysis, the reasons for which are less known. This study is to explain the experiences of Iranian patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis regarding the decision to choose a kidney replacement treatment method.

18 peritoneal dialysis patients living in four provinces of Iran participated in this qualitative study.

The analysis of the text of the interviews led to the emergence of four main categories: the first category, under the title "Compulsion to choose", includes two sub-categories: "Lack of alternatives" and "Indifference to the patient's preferences", the second category is titled "Insufficient health literacy". It includes two subcategories of information poverty and limited access to reliable information, the "culture ruling the treatment system" category, which itself includes two subgroups of preference for the physician’s opinion and disregard for the patient's bill of rights, and finally the social support category, which includes family support, treatment staff assistance and the support was procedural.

Considering all the factors, the culture of the region and the treatment of the patient and if needed by his family, considering the chronic nature of the disease and the constant involvement of the patient's family in this process, providing sufficient and reliable information and creating access.