ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic kidney disease who receive early nephrology care have a better prognosis with maintenance dialysis. We aimed to determine whether early referral to a nephrologist can also improve the psychological burden of having chronic kidney disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with chronic kidney disease that required hemodialysis were studied: 19 had a $ 6-month history of nephrology care (Group1), and 20 had never received any prior nephrology care (Group2). All patients participated in a semi-structured interview that addressed their perceived knowledge and psychological aspects related to CKD and hemodialysis. Demographic and laboratory data as well as socioeconomic status were evaluated. RESULTS: In both groups, most of the patients were of low socioeconomic status. Group 1 had significantly better laboratory parameters (p<0.05). The patients' answers to the questions showed no differences between the groups: 63 percent of Group 1 and 55 percent of Group 2 reported that they had no prior knowledge about dialysis; 58 percent and 40 percent, respectively, reported that they ''don't completely understand what the doctor says''; and 74 percent and 85 percent, respectively, believed that their ''kidneys would work again''. CONCLUSION: Pre-dialysis nephrology care improves the clinical conditions of the patients with chronic kidney disease but is insufficient for minimizing other aspects of having chronic kidney disease.