Table 3.

Suggestions for addressing gender disparities in CKD and dialysis

Domain	Suggestions
Empowerment in decision-making and self-management	Engage trained independent interpreters to support direct communication with women (women) Establish treatment regimens that are flexible with and centered on life priorities, for example, caregiving responsibility and work (women, men)
Financial support	Advocate for the provision of universal healthcare coverage/insurance for CKD treatment and dialysis, particularly for those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged Provide assistance in accessing financial support, for example, childcare (women) Work with stakeholder organizations, including government and charity organizations, to establish grants specifically for women (women)
Patient awareness and education	Emphasize and encourage ownership of treatment (men) Identify care partners to provide support (women)
Communication	Address appearance and body image concerns, for example, in relation to vascular access Encourage lifestyle management using a sensitive and positive approach
Unconscious bias in clinicians	Establish system alerts for comorbidities, complications, and laboratory results to avoid dismissing symptoms (women) Conduct explicit and object assessment of capacity and functioning to inform treatment decisions (women)
Access to clinics	Establish and provide outreach or mobile clinics (for dialysis, medical consultation, educational sessions)
Accountability	Establish institutional policies and mechanism for accountability in addressing gender disparities

CKD, chronic kidney disease.