USB Drives for Communication of Medical Information in a Pediatric Dialysis Unit

Abstract Background and Aims New technologies have advanced diagnostic techniques and enabled patient self-information, nonetheless, they can become a weapon of misinformation if not used appropriately. Online health resources utilization, gamification and the appearance of new specialized Apps are becoming a challenge in the quest for correct use of new technologies in the Nephrological field and in the patient empowerment process. Aims 1st Phase: Determine how frequent medical information is searched for online, the main topics and the different sources of information used by PD patients in our Service of Nephrology. Method Observational prospective study using a cohort of patients from PD Unit (pre dialysis and on dialysis). First, an online survey was used in order to obtain demographic variables and to determine the use of different sources of information and their quality. Secondly, patients were instructed in ICTs via virtual desktop as well as in two live workshops. Results 52 patients (37 men, 15 women). Mean age: 61.7 years. Academic level (elementary school: 20). Place of residence (urban: 65.4%). 48% never uses the internet. From the rest: 68% searches in a regular manner for health-related issues, with “Google” being the main search engine (77.8%). 100% have searched for their own illnesses, 72.2% consider the information found not completely reliable. 61% looks for information before and after the clinical encounter. 72.2% have asked other patients about nephrological health related issues, while 27.8% have given counsel of said issues to others. 86.5% doesn’t use health related Apps and only 5.8% use blogs. Among the variables analysed, differences where found in being older age and less use of internet (ANOVA test p<0.001) and with lower cultural level and less use of new technologies (Chi-squared test p<0.001). Conclusion The analysed data show that nowadays we face two main problems in our PD unit: Generational digital divide we have patients who have not incorporated into their lives the use of new technologies, in contraposition to others who use them in regular bases. Guarantee that those who use digital resources can access them in a simple and trustworthy manner. Therefore, we believe that the second phase of this project, both the workshops and the virtual desktop, are tools that can help fix these problems.

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Peritoneal Transport Kinetics of Proteins in Children on Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal Dialysis International ◽

10.1177/089686080302300212 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 162-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Klaus Arbeiter ◽

Regina Stemberger ◽

Laurence Greenbaum ◽

Thomas Mueller ◽

Andrea Konstantin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peritoneal Dialysis ◽

Close Correlation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Transport Kinetics ◽

Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dialysis Unit ◽

Pediatric Dialysis ◽

Molecular Weights ◽

Peritoneal Transport

Objective This study describes a modified 4-hour peritoneal equilibration test (PET) for analyzing peritoneal transport characteristics of proteins with different molecular weights and predicting daily peritoneal protein losses in children on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A single regional pediatric dialysis unit in a teaching hospital. Patients 9 stable pediatric dialysis patients; 4 were on continuous ambulatory PD, 5 were on continuous cycling PD. Main Outcome Measures Serum and dialysate concentrations of IgG, albumin, β2-microglobulin, and transferrin were determined during a PET. Changes in dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) ratios were determined hourly. Agreement between PET-derived and measured daily peritoneal protein losses was examined. Results The D/P ratio decreased with increased molecular radius ( p < 0.0001). Many children had low plasma levels of IgG, albumin, and transferrin, but elevated levels of β2-microglobulin. The D/P ratio increased linearly during the PET for all measured proteins, regardless of molecular weight. There was close correlation between 4-hour PET protein losses and 24-hour losses during routine PD. Conclusions Proteins are lost through the peritoneum according to their size, demonstrating linear transport kinetics during a 4-hour PET. The PET-derived data predicted daily protein losses in children on chronic PD. This approach might help to eliminate inaccuracies due to incomplete dialysate collection.

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