This analysis explores how shared decision making improves dialysis outcomes in individuals with end-stage renal disease, suggesting better preparedness can alleviate patient suffering.
Taiwan has one of the highest incidences of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, ranking among the top three globally, which poses a heavy burden on the National Health Insurance system. A major challenge is that many patients lack adequate understanding of renal replacement therapies (RRT), leading to insufficient preparation. As a result, they often require urgent dialysis only when their condition becomes critical. This not only causes patient suffering and worsens treatment outcomes, but also strains physician–patient relationships.
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Huang et al. (2026) studied this question.
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