Table 3

Components of treatment burden reported by patients and kidney care team members

PatientsProfessionals
Treatment burdenUnderstanding CKD, its treatment and consequencesGiven inadequate information to manage conditionHealth literacy issues, language barriers
Information gatheringPerceived lack of benefit in medications
Conflicting adviceConflicting advice
Anxiety/uncertainty about futureAnxiety/uncertainty about future
Multimorbidity and polypharmacy adding complexityMultimorbidity and polypharmacy adding complexity
Adhering to treatments and management
AppointmentsMaking note/keeping track of multiple appointmentsMaking note/keeping track of multiple appointments
Travel to appointments/no local careTravel to appointments/no local care
ParkingParking
Long waiting timesLong waiting times
Wasted time and effortWasted time and effort
MedicationLack of choice/lack of medication review
Remembering names of or distinguishing medicationsRemembering names of or distinguishing medications
Practical difficulties with handling medicationPractical difficulties with taking medication
Keeping up with changing medication
Challenges filling prescriptions
Multimorbidity and polypharmacy adding complexity
Lifestyle changesChanging diets
Bladder issues
Interacting with othersDifficulty obtaining GP appointmentsDifficulty obtaining GP appointments
Short appointment lengths
Unexpected changes to healthcare (eg, being taken off dialysis list)
Lack of interpersonal continuity of careLack of interpersonal continuity of care
Communication barriers with health professionalsCommunication barriers with health professionals
Lack of communication and coordination between primary and secondary care
Lack of communication and coordination between specialistsLack of communication and coordination between specialists
Lack of standardised procedures (eg, different blood forms)
  • *Differences in perspectives highlighted in bold.

  • CKD, chronic kidney disease; GP, general practitioner.