A nationwide educational campaign on the quality of life of dialysis patients has been launched.
Public awareness of the prevention of chronic kidney disease is very low. Poles do not know what diagnostic tests are used to diagnose this disease. They also have no idea what symptoms should worry them and make them suspect chronic kidney disease. The latest study conducted by TNS OBOP, on January 21-24, 2010, proves a very low awareness of Polish patients in the field of kidney disease prophylaxis. The TNS / OBOP study also showed that Poles have a low level of knowledge about the places where patients requiring dialysis can perform them – only a quarter of Poles know that they can be performed both in hospital and at home. What is worrying, the lack of knowledge is also noted among the most interested – in all these groups – patients with chronic kidney disease, people who have direct or indirect contact with dialysis, most often it is believed that they can only be performed in hospital conditions.
The Polish Association of Dialyzed Patients, the Polish Society of Nephrology, the Polish Society of Pediatric Nephrology and the Polish Society of Transplantation support the nationwide campaign Home Dialysis – Life Without Borders. The campaign is addressed to people starting dialysis therapy, their families and carers, as well as to those seeking knowledge about the possibilities of an active life during treatment. The main goal of the program is to educate patients and their families in terms of opportunities
available renal replacement therapy. Moreover, as part of the “Home Dialysis – Life Without Borders” program, patients and their families are provided with knowledge that helps them to constantly lead an active lifestyle, without fear of excluding a dialysis patient from normal functioning in society. The quality of information during the campaign is supervised by the Council of Experts, which includes representatives of the Polish Nephrology Society – the main partner. Home dialysis – life without borders.
The main element of the campaign is the website www.dializadomowa.pl, where everyone interested, both the patient and his family, medical staff or media representatives, will find relevant information on peritoneal dialysis. The website introduces the topic of peritoneal dialysis, i.e. home dialysis in a simple way. www.dializadomowa.pl
Dialysis problem
Dialysis as a method of renal replacement therapy is a topic that is rarely discussed in the media. Journalists dealing with health issues do not have sufficient access to reliable information on this topic. The result is low public awareness of the possibilities
an active life with kidney disease. Initiatives drawing attention to the problems of this group of patients do not reach a wide audience. Dialysis is a method of cleansing the blood of toxins. Dialysis is used in patients with end-stage renal disease. This method allows the removal of most harmful metabolic products from the patient’s body, which are naturally eliminated by the work of the kidneys. This treatment is also aimed at maintaining an adequate fluid balance. Two methods of dialysis are most commonly used: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The main difference is that in Poland, peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home. The decision to undertake both peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis in each case is made by the doctor, adequately to the patient’s condition and capabilities.
Campaign experts:
Prof. dr hab. med. Magdalena Durlik, Director of the Institute of Transplantology at the Medical University of Warsaw
Prof. dr hab. med. Bolesław Rutkowski, National Consultant in the field of nephrology
Doc. dr hab. med. Tomasz Stompór, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Prof. dr hab. med. Zofia Wańkowicz, Head of the Nephrology Clinic of the Military Medical Institute of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of National Defense, Committee of Clinical Pathophysiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Prof. dr hab. Andrzej Więcek, President of the Board of the Polish Society of Nephrology
Prof. dr hab. med. Danuta Zwolińska, Head of the Chair and Clinic of Pediatric Nephrology at the Medical University of Wrocław, president of the Polish Society of Pediatric Nephrology
About World Kidney Day
Celebrated around the world on the second Thursday of March, World Kidney Day is a unique excuse to inform and educate health policy makers, countries most at risk of CKD, and to raise public awareness of the risk, prevention and treatment of kidney disease. Through seminars, scientific congresses and press conferences, we can all contribute to positive change in the health care system and practice a healthy lifestyle.
The next World Kidney Day will be celebrated on March 11, 2010 and will focus on diabetes as the main cause of serious nephrological complications. In 2009, the fourth World Kidney Day was celebrated with 370 different celebrations held
in over 100 countries on six continents. The support of stars such as Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp significantly strengthened the campaign’s visibility. More details at: www.worldkidneyday.org World Kidney Day in Poland is organized as part of the “Home Dialysis – Life Without Borders” campaign thanks to Baxter Polska.
Additional information:
Małgorzata Markowska
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