Daily dialysis: Exploring the impact for patients and nurses

Abstract

Daily haemodialysis is different to conventional haemodialysis in that the person receives at least five haemodialysis sessions per week. Increased haemodialysis sessions demonstrate an increased quality of life, decreased intradialytic complications and a decrease in comorbidities that are experienced by people receiving conventional haemodialysis. These improvements in health status are offset with substantial consequences on time management for patient and staff as well as the increased financial cost of supplies. This paper compares conventional haemodialysis with daily haemodialysis and examines the benefits and limitations of daily haemodialysis. We suggest that people who receive daily haemodialysis are able to achieve their fullest health potential with an increased quality of life, less comorbidity and less hospitalization.