Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38172719›Full record

ArticleBMC nephrology2024

Unravelling complex choices: multi-stakeholder perceptions on dialysis withdrawal and end-of-life care in kidney disease.

Chandrika Ramakrishnan, Nathan Widjaja, Chetna Malhotra, Eric Finkelstein, Behram Ali Khan, Semra Ozdemir, STEP Study Group

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nephrology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Chandrika RamakrishnanDuke-NUS Medical School, Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Singapore, Singapore.
Nathan WidjajaDuke-NUS Medical School, Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Singapore, Singapore.
Chetna MalhotraDuke-NUS Medical School, Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Singapore, Singapore.
Eric FinkelsteinDuke-NUS Medical School, Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Singapore, Singapore.
Behram Ali KhanDivision of Nephrology, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Semra OzdemirDuke-NUS Medical School, Lien Centre for Palliative Care, Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Singapore, Singapore. semra.ozdemir@duke.edu.
STEP Study Group
SingHealth · SGDuke University · USNational Kidney Foundation Singapore · SGDuke-NUS Medical School · SG

Funding

National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Singapore NKFRC/2021/01/01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFor patients on dialysis with poor quality of life and prognosis, dialysis withdrawal and subsequent transition to palliative care is recommended. This study aims to understand multi-stakeholder perspectives regarding dialysis withdrawal and identify their information needs and support for decision-making regarding withdrawing from dialysis and end-of-life care.

methodsParticipants were recruited through purposive sampling from eight dialysis centers and two public hospitals in Singapore. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients on dialysis, 8 family caregivers, and 16 renal healthcare providers. They were held in-person at dialysis clinics with patients and caregivers, and virtually via video-conferencing with healthcare providers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. The Ottawa Decision Support Framework's decisional-needs manual was used as a guide for data collection and analysis, with two independent team members coding the data.

resultsFour themes reflecting perceptions and support for decision-making were identified: a) poor knowledge and fatalistic perceptions; b) inadequate resources and support for decision-making; c) complexity of decision-making, unclear timing, and unpreparedness; and d) internal emotions of decisional conflict and regret. Participants displayed limited awareness of dialysis withdrawal and palliative care, often perceiving dialysis withdrawal as medical abandonment. Patient preferences regarding decision-making ranged from autonomous control to physician or family-delegated choices. Cultural factors contributed to hesitancy and reluctance to discuss end-of-life matters, resulting in a lack of conversations between patients and providers, as well as between patients and their caregivers.

conclusionsDecision-making for dialysis withdrawal is complicated, exacerbated by a lack of awareness and conversations on end-of-life care among patients, caregivers, and providers. These findings emphasize the need for a culturally-sensitive tool that informs and prepares patients and their caregivers to navigate decisions about dialysis withdrawal and the transition to palliative care. Such a tool could bridge information gaps and stimulate meaningful conversations, fostering informed and culturally aligned decisions during this critical juncture of care.

Indexed as

Kidney DiseasesKidney Failure, ChronicTerminal CareDecision MakingHumansQualitative ResearchQuality of LifeRenal DialysisDecision-makingDialysis withdrawalEnd-stage kidney diseasePalliative careThe Ottawa Decision Support Framework

Identifiers

PMID38172719
PMCPMC10765633
OpenAlexW4390572187

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.