People with kidney failure need to make important decisions about their treatment that affect their health, daily life and future.
This resource was developed by the ACI Renal Network to help patients, families and healthcare teams make these choices together.
It helps guide clear and honest conversations about treatment options so people can choose what is right for them. It is important to start these conversations early so people have time to learn about their options, ask questions and feel prepared.
This resource explains the main treatment options for kidney failure, including:
- conservative care (care without dialysis)
- dialysis (at home or in a centre)
- kidney transplant.
It explains what each treatment involves, including the good things (benefits), possible problems (risks) and how it may affect daily life.
How this resource was developed
This resource was made to help ensure that people across NSW receive the same information. It gives easy to understand information so everyone can make informed choices. It also includes prompts to help guide conversations between patients and their healthcare team.
Patients, families and clinicians helped create this resource. They shared their experiences to make sure it is practical and useful. Aboriginal people were also consulted to make sure the content is respectful and culturally appropriate.
Treatment choices are personal. People make decisions based on what matters to them, their values, culture, family and life situation. By combining medical knowledge with real-life experience, this resource helps people feel informed, confident and supported in making choices about their care.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following people who were involved in the development of this resource.
- Catherine Blackamore, Renal Service Nurse Manager, Central Coast LHD
- Tania Burns, Renal Transplant Coordinator, South Eastern Sydney LHD
- Jayson Catiwa, Renal Vascular Access Clinical Nurse Consultant, South Eastern Sydney LHD
- Maria Chan, Senior Renal Dietitian, South Eastern Sydney LHD
- Sarah Fourie, Renal Options Coordinator, Hunter New England LHD
- Jenny HC Chen, Renal Staff Specialist, Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
- Belinda Henderson, Renal Services Clinical Nurse Consultant, Northern Sydney LHD
- Leanne Kelly, Renal Services Nurse Unit Manager, Hunter New England LHD
- Denise Lawrence, Transplant Coordinator, South Eastern Sydney LHD
- Maureen Lonergan, retired nephrologist
- Amy McAlpine, Physiotherapist and consumer, Northern NSW LHD
- Gordon McKay, Renal Options Coordinator, Hunter New England LHD
- Kim McNamara, Renal Clinical Nurse Consultant (Outreach), Hunter New England LHD
- Michael Noel, Staff Specialist, Renal Supportive Care, Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
- Brad Rossiter, consumer
- Sarah Russo, Nephrology Nurse Practitioner, Hunter New England LHD
- John Saunders, Nephrologist, Sydney LHD
- Tanya Smolonogov, Pre Dialysis Clinical Nurse Consultant, Western Sydney LHD
- Melinda Tomlins, Nephrology Nurse Practitioner, Hunter New England LHD
- Kylie Turner, Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Nurse Consultant, South Eastern Sydney LHD
- Sheridan Ward, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Transplant Recipient Coordinator, Hunter New England LHD