Home Hemodialysis: Benefits and Barriers to a Promising Modality of Renal Replacement Therapy

Thesis (M.Nurs.), College of Nursing, Washington State UniversityPatients requiring hemodialysis in the United States have poor clinical outcomes and quality of life. Home-based hemodialysis therapies have been shown to improve clinical outcomes, patient functioning and patient satisfaction at potentially reduced cost to society. Despite evidence that such therapies can be attractive alternatives to traditional in-center hemodialysis, substantial obstacles exist to its more frequent use including technical obstacles, social obstacles and systemic barriers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature for evidence of the benefits to more frequent use of home hemodialysis and to examine the barriers that prevent its more frequent implementation