Aims:

To learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their experiences with health care for chronic and end-stage kidney disease.  

Summary:

Darwin recently hosted the 53^rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology.  The local organising committee, including Dr Paul Lawton, Dr William Majoni and Dr Jaqui Hughes promoted the opportunity for Australian and New Zealand nephrologists to learn from patients. This Inaugural Patients Voices Meeting promoted key issues for patients in Northern Australia. Eighty-two delegates participated in the meeting, and 60 per cent worked in the nephrology health care industry.  

Implications for policy and practice:

• Timely diagnosis of kidney disease and access to kidney supportive treatments 
• A greater emphasis on enabling patients to live in their own homes with their own families whilst undertaking dialysis treatments.  
• Information systems about kidney disease and how to access health care, 
• Education, workforce and cultural safety reforms.

Our research has found: 

Chief Investigators:

• Jaqui Hughes
• William Majoni
• Paul Lawton

Project dates:

Funders:

• Kidney Health Australia
• Astellas Pharma
• Novartis Australia

• RACP e-bulletin | Creating a sustainable health care model for assisted dialysis in very remote Australia

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  pdf

• Hughes, J.T., Dembski, L., Kerrigan V., Majoni, S.W., Lawton, P.D., Cass, A.. (2017). Indigenous Patient Voices: Gathering Perspectives Finding Solutions for chronic and end stage kidney disease, 2017 Symposium Report. [online] Darwin: Menzies School of Health Research. 

1.  “Country heals you." Renal patients want treatment at home.

2. Renal patients want more education.

3. Renal patients ask for respect.

4. “We want to have treatment on our own country.” - David Croker