Table 1.

Models of delivering assisted peritoneal dialysis in different countries

Canada and Europe (not including the United Kingdom and France)

Mostly automated peritoneal dialysis

Community nurses visit twice a day

Morning visit to disconnect patient from cycler machine, remove used bags, and set up machine with new bags for the evening

Shorter evening visit to connect patient to cycler machine

France

Mostly continuous ambulatory dialysis using nondisconnect systems

Private community nurse visits three to four times a day

Nurse phones patient before visit to start draining, thereby reducing length of visit

United Kingdom

Daily visit from a health care assistant (individual with short basic training in health care)

Salary of a health care assistant is less than that of a nurse

One visit a day only—assistant takes used bags off cycler machine and sets up machine with new bags; also checks BP and weight of patient and can perform exit site dressings

Patient (with or without family support) does his/her own connection to and disconnection from the cycler machine