The Green Nephrology Group of the SFNDT: initial reflections / Groupe Néphrologie verte de la SFNDT : premières réflexions

Preserving the environment is becoming a universal priority. Human activities must be redesigned to best adapt them to available resources and to reduce their deleterious impact on the planet. The Green Nephrology Group of the "Société française de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation" (SFNDT) has started a reflection on these issues, in particular on dialysis, a vital treatment but with high carbon production, associated with high water consumption. The data available on these points are presented such as, among others, the collection of indicators and action plans, the recycling of waste from water treatment, the reduction of dialysate flow, the reuse and regeneration of spent dialysate as well as calculations of carbon emission by dialysis activity. Architectural experiences are reported as well as the regulatory constraints applying to manufacturers and organizations in the sector. Potential solutions require the mobilization of all stakeholders, ranging from patients to health authorities, including caregivers, pharmacists, technicians, nephrologists and facility managers. They will be formalized very soon in a guide being prepared by the SFNDT Green Nephrology Group.

La préservation de l'environnement devient une priorité universelle. Les activités humaines doivent être repensées pour les adapter au mieux aux ressources disponibles et réduire leur impact délétère sur la planète. Le groupe Néphrologie verte de la Société francophone de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation (SFNDT) a entamé une réflexion sur ces problématiques, en particulier sur la dialyse, traitement à caractère vital mais à production de carbone élevée, associée à une consommation d'eau importante. Les données disponibles sur ces points sont présentées comme, entre autres, le recueil d'indicateurs et les plans d'action, le recyclage du rejet du traitement d'eau, la réduction de débit du dialysat, la réutilisation et régénération du dialysat usé ainsi que les calculs d'émission de carbone par l'activité de dialyse. Les expériences architecturales sont rapportées de même que les contraintes réglementaires s'appliquant aux industriels et établissements du secteur. Les solutions potentielles nécessitent la mobilisation de tous les acteurs, allant des patients aux autorités de santé, en passant par les soignants, pharmaciens, techniciens, néphrologues et les directions d'établissement. Elles seront formalisées très prochainement dans un guide en cours de préparation par le groupe Néphrologie verte de la SFNDT.

Design of therapeutic education workshops for home haemodialysis in a patient-centered chronic kidney diseases research: a qualitative study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: A quarter of patients do not receive any information on the modalities of renal remplacement therapy (RRT) before its initiation. In our facility, we provide therapeutic education workshops for all RRT except for home hemodialysis (HHD). The objectives of this study were to identify and describe the needs of CKD patients and caregivers for RRT with HHD and design therapeutic education workshops. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Two sequential methods of qualitative data collection were conducted. Interviews with patients treated with HHD and doctors specialized in HHD were performed to define the interview guide followed by semi-structured interviews with the help of HHD patients from our center. ANALYTIC APPROACH: Thematic analysis was conducted and were rooted in the principles of qualitative analysis for social scientists. Data were analyzed by two investigators. Transcribed interviews were entered into RQDA 3.6.1 software for data organization and coding purposes (Version 3.6.1). RESULTS: In total, five interviews were performed. We identified six themes related to the barriers, facilitators, and potential solutions to home dialysis therapy: (1) HHD allows autonomy and freedom with constraints, (2) safety of the care environment, (3) the caregiver and family environment, (4) patient's experience and experiential knowledge, (5) self-care experience and impact on life, and (6) factors that impact the choice of treatment with HHD. We designed therapeutic education workshops in a group of patients and caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed previous results obtained in literature on the major barriers, facilitators, and potential solutions to HHD including the impact of HHD on the caregiver, the experiences of patients already treated with HHD, and the role of nurses and nephrologists in informing and educating patients. A program to develop patient-to-patient peer mentorship allowing patients to discuss their dialysis experience may be relevant.

Patient-reported outcome measures in hemodialysis patients: results of the first multicenter cross-sectional ePROMs study in France.

BACKGROUND: Kidney failure with replacement therapy and hemodialysis are associated with a decrease in quality of life (QOL). Self-reported QOL symptoms are not always prioritized by the medical team, potentially leading to conflicting priorities with patients. Electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) allow physicians to better identify these symptoms. The objective was to describe the prevalence of symptoms self-reported by hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in three HD centers. Patients were included if they were 18 years old or over treated with HD for at least 3 months in a center. Data were collected by the patient via a self-administered ePROMs questionnaire. Data included patient characteristics, post-dialysis fatigue and intensity, recovery time after a session, perceived stress, impaired sleep the day before the dialysis session, current state of health and the change from the past year. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify relations between symptoms. RESULTS: In total, we included 173 patients with a mean age of 66.2 years, a mean ± SD hemodialysis duration of 48.9 ± 58.02 months. The prevalence of fatigue was 72%. 66% had a high level of stress (level B or C). Recovery time was more than 6 h after a HD session for 25% of patients and 78% declared they had a better or unchanged health status than the previous year. Sleep disturbance was associated with cardiovascular comorbidities (OR 5.08 [95% CI, 1.56 to 16.59], p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue and stress were the main symptoms reported by HD patients. The patient's care teams should better consider these symptoms.

[Psychological impact of lockdown and the COVID-19 epidemic on haemodialysis patients and carers in France]. / Répercussions psychologiques du confinement et de l'épidémie à COVID-19 chez les patients et soignants en hémodialyse en France.

INTRODUCTION: The health crisis linked to the COVID-19 epidemic has required lockdown measures in France and changes in practices in dialysis centers. The objective was to assess the depressive and anxiety symptoms during lockdown in hemodialysis patients and their caregivers. METHODS: We sent, during lockdown period, between April and May 2020, self-questionnaires to voluntary subjects (patients and caregivers), treated by hemodialysis or who worked in hemodialysis in one of the 14 participating centers in France. We analyzed their perception of dialysis sessions (beneficial or worrying), their stress level (VAS rated from 0 to 10), their anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital anxiety and depression scale). Factors associated with stress, anxiety and depression were analyzed with multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: 669 patients and 325 caregivers agreed to participate. 70 % of participants found it beneficial to come to dialysis during confinement. The proportions of subjects with a stress level ≥ 6 linked to the epidemic, confinement, fear of contracting COVID-19 and fear of infecting a loved one were respectively 23.9%, 26.2%, 33.4% and 42%. 39.2% presented with certain (13.7%) or doubtful (19.2%) anxious symptoms. 21.2% presented a certain (7.9%) or doubtful (13.3%) depressive symptomatology. Age, gender, history of psychological disorders and perception of dialysis sessions were associated with levels of stress, anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: During the lockdown period, in France, the majority of hemodialysis patients and caregivers found it beneficial to come to dialysis. One in three subjects had anxiety symptoms and one in five subjects had depressive symptoms.

[e-Health in nephrology: 1st French survey on telenephrology]. / Pratique de la e-santé en néphrologie en France : Résultats de la première enquête sur la télénéphrologie.

The number of new patients with chronic kidney diseases strongly increases while the one of nephrologists does not: this is developing new challenges, in which e-health will take a special part. This field is poorly investigated: so, we developed a dedicated survey. Telenephrology is a new approach that includes all what nephrologists can do in their routine practice: especially, telehealth with teleconsulting, telesurvey, and helpline. We also studied their relationship with m-health. The questionnaire was developed and validated by members from the Club des Jeunes Néphrologues and the Société Francophone de Néphrologie, Dialyse et Transplantation: it was then broadcast to all french nephrologists, thru web media. From June to July, 2017, we collected 175 answers: they represented all kinds of practices of the profession. Results show that French nephrologists are connected: most of them are present on social network(s) and/or uses connected objects, mostly for personal reasons. They communicate a lot, between them and/or with patients, mainly via email. Computerized medical records are mostly used in the follow-up of patients on renal dialysis or with chronic kidney diseases. Most of French nephrologists are satisfied by telenephrology but there are still obstacles to its deployment: mainly, technical, administrative, and/or billing difficulties. All should be taken into account to help telenephrology developing. In conclusion, French nephrologists are yet connected but they really need more help again to face new challenges raised by e-health.

[Access to kidney transplantation's waiting list: Setting up a clinical pathway]. / Accès à la liste d'attente de transplantation rénale : mise en place d'un chemin clinique.

Early information about the kidney transplant is recommended to begin quickly the process of registration on the kidney transplantation waiting list, even for the patients not dialyzed at stage V of the renal insufficiency. It is a strategic choice for the patient care. From the arrival of all the patients in our center of dialysis, a systematic evaluation of the access to the kidney transplant waiting list is organized thanks to a clinical pathway. The impact of this new organization was estimated at 18 months with regard to the information about the kidney transplant transmitted to the patient, of the time required for the assessment of pre-kidney transplant evaluation, and of putting in contraindication. On 78 incident patients, 64 received the information concerning the kidney transplant. After 18 months, 50 clinical pathways are finalized at the time of the analysis among which 25 with a period lower than 6 days and 25 with a median of 169 days. A significant difference of age exists between both groups. The main causes of definitive medical contraindications were estimated. Twenty-two percent of the clinical pathway finalized is awaiting lifting of temporary contraindication. The management of the patient is improved, due to motivation of all the medical teams and a considerable work of coordination between the secretarial department and the department of transplantation in teaching hospital.

[Interests of advanced systematic evaluation of dialysis session]. / Intérêt d'une évaluation multicritères systématique de la séance de dialyse.

In order to rationalize the cost of care for dialysis patients in Centre, regulatory authorities urge establishments to favor the orientation of the patients in Medical Dialysis Unit where the medical presence is not permanent. This involves clinical skills for nurses in the conduct of the dialysis session. Faced with this changing work patterns, we present two security tools of the dialysis session. The first is a "check-list", simple, quick and easy to use, it enables secure connection phase of the patient. It was quickly integrated practice of all professionals. The second tool developed is a combination of indicators "DEAUP" for Pain, Purification, Blood access, Ultrafiltration and other Problems for assessing the quality of the course of the dialysis session. The aim is to reduce the occurrence of adverse events, the DEAUP rating certain criteria depending on the occurrence of incidents, from 0 to 2, 2 corresponding to the appearance of an incident having required the call of the doctor and constitute a precious tool of evaluation of the session for all the professionals. All nurses have joined the practice of evaluation, 98% of the realized sessions are informed and quoted; 8.4% of sessions required call nephrologists before or at the connection. The evaluation at the end of dialysis session found 15% of the sessions listed 2. Calls have resulted in an adjustment to the prescription of the sessions.