Family adjustment to pediatric ambulatory dialysis

Abstract

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis has recently been a successful medical treatment for children with end-stage renal disease. The psychosocial issues for families and patients are considered within the context of the child's developmental stage (infants and toddlers, school age, and adolescence). The parent's conflicting duties as both a provider of medical care and a parent often lead to disturbances in family relationships.