Effects of one‐hour discussion on the choice of dialysis modality at the outpatient clinic: a retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching

Background The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of one-hour discussion on the choice of dialysis modality at the outpatient clinic. Methods Charts of consecutive patients who had started maintenance dialysis from May 2013 to April 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Characteristics at the start of dialysis were compared between patients participated and not participated in the discussion. Results Of the 620 incident dialysis patients, 128 patients had participated in the discussion. After propensity score matching (1:1), 127 patients who participated in the discussion tended to have fewer urgent hospitalizations (13.4% vs. 21.3%, p = 0.068). In addition, more patients who initiated peritoneal dialysis (PD) (30.7% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, participation in the discussion (OR 4.81, 95% CI 2.807-8.24; p < 0.001) was related to PD initiation. Conclusion One-hour discussion on the choice of dialysis modality may increase PD initiations and decrease the number of urgent hospitalizations.