Innovations in renal care: BASIC-HHD: BArriers to Successful Implementation of Care in Home HaemoDialysis

Compared to in-centre haemodialysis, home haemodialysis, especially when used for extended hours of dialysis as in frequent daily dialysis and nocturnal haemodialysis, has been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce the need for medication, and increase patients’ sense of freedom and control over their lives.

In the past standard treatment was at home, but the introduction of dialysis centres impacted on the level of HHD, unlike other conditions where in-home treatment increasingly emphasized within policy. Only about 2% of dialysis patients are on home haemodialysis across the UK, despite 2002 NICE guidelines suggesting 10-15% could be on HHD.

This project investigates the factors influencing the choice of dialysis modality for renal patients and in particular the barriers to the uptake of home haemodialysis by interviewing the relevant stakeholders at 5 different renal units in England.