Take Control of Your Health: A Guide to Self-Care in Peritoneal Dialysis
"Empowering patients through self-care strategies can significantly improve quality of life and treatment outcomes. Learn how to enhance your agency in peritoneal dialysis."
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses significant challenges, impacting not only the patient's health but also their overall quality of life and family dynamics. The economic burden on healthcare systems is substantial, making effective self-care strategies crucial. By empowering patients to take an active role in their treatment, we can mitigate these effects, improving outcomes and reducing the strain on healthcare resources.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) offers a unique opportunity for patients to manage their treatment from the comfort of their homes. This independence, however, requires a strong foundation in self-care. Patients must be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform dialysis exchanges, monitor their health, and adhere to medication schedules. Strengthening self-care agency is key to maximizing the benefits of PD, allowing individuals to maintain their lifestyles and overall well-being.
This article delves into the critical aspects of self-care in PD, exploring strategies to enhance patient autonomy and improve treatment adherence. Inspired by the research of Ana Julia Carrillo Algarra, we provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing effective self-care practices, ultimately empowering patients to take control of their health journey.
Home-Based Care and Self-Management
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is often performed at home and requires an abdominal catheter; dialysis care teams provide training and support for patients doing PD at home. A study aimed at understanding self-management ability and influencing factors surveyed 507 PD patients at three tertiary hospitals from June 2024 to February 2025. The supplied study summary describes its methods but does not report findings or a broader prevalence estimate.
Assessing Readiness for Home PD
PD is a home-based therapy that patients or their caregivers must perform, and one study set out to develop a practical way to assess patients’ ability to perform PD and identify barriers to self-care. A 2024 scoping review found that home-dialysis candidacy assessment involves clinical, psychosocial, and logistical factors. The review noted that further research is needed to validate and refine existing tools and establish standardized screening criteria.
From Early Records to Modern PD
The first known recorded reference to the peritoneal cavity appears in the Ebers papyrus, dated to 1550 BC. The term “peritoneum” derives from the Greek *peritonaion*, meaning “to stretch around.” These historical accounts trace the subject from early recognition of the peritoneum to the development of peritoneal dialysis.
Understanding Self-Care in Peritoneal Dialysis: What Does It Really Mean?
Self-care in the context of peritoneal dialysis goes beyond simply performing the technical aspects of the treatment. It encompasses a holistic approach that includes actively participating in one's health management, making informed decisions, and adhering to prescribed regimens. Dorothea Orem's self-care deficit theory defines self-care as actions individuals undertake to maintain their well-being, health, and life. This concept is particularly relevant in PD, where patients are responsible for administering their treatment and managing their daily care.
- Maintaining and improving physical fitness.
- Optimizing nutritional status.
- Engaging in recreational activities as a form of self-care.
- Protecting and maintaining arteriovenous fistulas.
- Adhering to pharmacological therapies.
- Applying experiential knowledge and self-constructed practices.
Limits of Retraining Evidence
In a randomized controlled trial, neither technique inspection nor oral education significantly changed the risk of all-cause peritonitis compared with usual care, although technique inspection showed a trend toward reducing non-enteric PD-related peritonitis. A separate randomized trial of retraining for older patients said large-scale multicenter trials are warranted to examine effectiveness. It also identified the timing and long-term effects of retraining as questions for further study.
Empowering Patients Through Enhanced Self-Care Strategies
In conclusion, fostering self-care agency in peritoneal dialysis patients is essential for improving treatment outcomes, quality of life, and overall well-being. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in designing and implementing strategies that empower patients to take control of their health. By addressing individual needs, promoting education, and fostering a collaborative relationship, we can help patients thrive while managing their condition effectively. Continued research and innovation in self-care practices will further enhance the lives of those undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
Self-Care Ability and Modality Choice
Self-management among people with diabetic kidney disease receiving home PD remains a challenge, according to a study that used the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine patients’ self-management behaviors. A separate randomized controlled trial investigated whether preemptively assessing self-care ability could change PD uptake. Its summary notes that uncertainty about performing PD tasks may deter patients from choosing the modality, but does not provide the trial’s results.
Technology and Unmet Needs
A perspective on the future of PD describes global uptake as low and identifies concerns about patient safety, complications, and the absence of continuous medical oversight as limiting factors. A 2025 review describes emerging technologies intended to address challenges in PD training, delivery, and complication identification. It also reports that currently used solutions are high-dextrose, concentrated acidic solutions that can increase glucose absorption and contribute to peritoneal membrane degradation through pseudohypoxia and related mechanisms.
Care-Partner and Employment Barriers
A 2025 article on PD in the United States says it is plausible that many patients in an older age group transitioned to hemodialysis because of growing barriers to self-care dialysis. The barriers it identifies include increasing comorbidities and changes in the availability or capacity of care partners. Separately, a study summary proposes including business support for employing PD patients in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) evaluation systems.
Connecting Home Monitoring to Care Records
A multicenter, real-world implementation study evaluated an interoperable digital ecosystem connecting the Sharesource remote patient monitoring platform with the Versia electronic medical record system. It used a before-and-after design among patients receiving automated PD at home. The study summary identifies a potential limitation of remote monitoring: patient-generated data may remain disconnected from electronic medical records, but it does not report the implementation’s outcomes.