The Effects of Shared Decision Making on Different Renal Replacement Therapy Decisions in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: The prevalence and incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Taiwan are the highest of any country in the world. The different renal replacement therapies that are adopted by patients with ESRD significantly affect their social roles and daily life. However, because of the complexities of different renal replacement therapies, patients may be unsure of which to choose.

The impact of nurse working hours on patient safety culture: a cross-national survey including Japan, the United States and Chinese Taiwan using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture.

Background: A positive patient safety culture (PSC) is one of the most critical components to improve healthcare quality and safety. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS), developed by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, has been used to assess PSC in 31 countries. However, little is known about the impact of nurse working hours on PSC.

Early utilization of hypertonic peritoneal dialysate and subsequent risks of non-traumatic amputation among peritoneal dialysis patients: a nationwide retrospective longitudinal study.

Background: The hemodialysis (HD) population has a particularly high incidence of amputation, which is likely associated with decreased tissue oxygenation during HD. However, information about the risk factors leading to amputation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is limited. Here, we have investigated the association between the use of hypertonic peritoneal dialysate (HPD) and subsequent amputation in PD patients.

The characteristics of patient safety culture in Japan, Taiwan and the United States.

Background: Quality and safety issues are receiving growing attention. Patient safety culture (PSC) plays an important role in patient safety. The characteristics of PSC in various countries, each with a different set of values, have not been determined sufficiently.

A comparative assessment of survival between propensity score-matched patients with peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis in Taiwan.

Studies comparing mortality for Asian populations with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) are limited. We compared mortality between patients treated with PD and HD in Taiwan, the population with the highest incidence of ESRD worldwide. Using the population-based insurance claims data of Taiwan from 1997 to 2006, we identified 4721 patients treated with PD and randomly selected 4721 patients treated with HD who were frequency-matched to the PD patients based on their propensity scores.

Frequencies of hepatitis B and C infections among haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients in Asia-Pacific countries: analysis of registry data.

Background: The impact of dialysis modality on the rates and types of infectious complications has not been well studied. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD) patients in the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: The study included the most recent period-prevalent data recorded in the national or regional dialysis registries of the 10 Asia-Pacific countries/areas (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and India), where such data were available.