Survey of legislative frameworks and national recommendations governing paediatric maintenance haemodialysis in Europe
(2025) In Pediatric Nephrology 40(6). p.2043-2051- Abstract
Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries. Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires. Results: Answers were received from 36 countries. The population served by HD centres varies from 83,000 to 1,197,000 residents below 18 years of age and the estimated mean number of children on HD per centre from 0.2 to 13.5. The lowest age at which a child can be dialysed in... (More)
Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries. Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires. Results: Answers were received from 36 countries. The population served by HD centres varies from 83,000 to 1,197,000 residents below 18 years of age and the estimated mean number of children on HD per centre from 0.2 to 13.5. The lowest age at which a child can be dialysed in an adult centre varies from 0 to 18 years. Laws or written national recommendations specifying: this age, the need for a paediatrician as part of medical team in mixed adult–paediatric centres, the minimum number of doctors per centre and the number of patients per nurse or nurse’s aide required during sessions exist in only 25, 22, 22, 44 and 8% of the countries, respectively. Similarly, dietitians, social workers, school service, psychologists and play specialists/youth workers are required by law or written national recommendations in 36, 28, 36, 31 and 14% of countries, respectively. Conclusion: Laws or written national recommendations for paediatric maintenance HD are rare in European countries and very heterogeneous when they exist. This calls for discussion among paediatric and adult nephrologists and health authorities on the organisation of safe and effective paediatric HD practices.
(Less)
- author
- author collaboration
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Child, Legal status, Maintenance haemodialysis, Recommendations, Survey
- in
- Pediatric Nephrology
- volume
- 40
- issue
- 6
- pages
- 9 pages
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39847057
- scopus:85217571812
- ISSN
- 0931-041X
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00467-025-06667-8
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1058b5b8-7e18-4959-8adb-76bc267b4ea0
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-02 08:43:00
- date last changed
- 2025-06-30 11:48:06
@article{1058b5b8-7e18-4959-8adb-76bc267b4ea0,
abstract = {{<p>Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries. Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires. Results: Answers were received from 36 countries. The population served by HD centres varies from 83,000 to 1,197,000 residents below 18 years of age and the estimated mean number of children on HD per centre from 0.2 to 13.5. The lowest age at which a child can be dialysed in an adult centre varies from 0 to 18 years. Laws or written national recommendations specifying: this age, the need for a paediatrician as part of medical team in mixed adult–paediatric centres, the minimum number of doctors per centre and the number of patients per nurse or nurse’s aide required during sessions exist in only 25, 22, 22, 44 and 8% of the countries, respectively. Similarly, dietitians, social workers, school service, psychologists and play specialists/youth workers are required by law or written national recommendations in 36, 28, 36, 31 and 14% of countries, respectively. Conclusion: Laws or written national recommendations for paediatric maintenance HD are rare in European countries and very heterogeneous when they exist. This calls for discussion among paediatric and adult nephrologists and health authorities on the organisation of safe and effective paediatric HD practices.</p>}},
author = {{Vedrine, Enzo and Schmitt, Claus Peter and Walle, Johan Vande and Shtiza, Diamant and Arbeiter, Klaus and Snauwaert, Evelien and Pokrajac, Danka and Roussinov, Dimitar and Milosevic, Danko and Avraam, Elia and Zieg, Jakub and Schmidt, Ida Maria and Toots, Ylle and Holtta, Tuula and Klaus, Günter and Askiti, Varvara and Tory, Kalman and Sweeney, Clodagh and Verrina, Enrico and Jeruma, Edite and Jankauskiene, Augustina and Conti, Valerie Said and Lutovac, Branko and Koster-Kamphuis, Linda and Tasic, Velibor and Bjerre, Anna Kristina and Szczepańska, Maria and Afonso, Alberto Caldas and Rãchişan, Andreea Liana and Spasojevic, Brankica and Janko, Victor and Novljan, Gregor and Ortega, Pedro J. and Sartz, Lisa and Tschumi, Sibylle and Bakkaloglu, Sevcan Azime and Dudley, Jan and Ivanov, Dymtro D. and Shroff, Rukshana and Ranchin, Bruno}},
issn = {{0931-041X}},
keywords = {{Child; Legal status; Maintenance haemodialysis; Recommendations; Survey}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{6}},
pages = {{2043--2051}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Pediatric Nephrology}},
title = {{Survey of legislative frameworks and national recommendations governing paediatric maintenance haemodialysis in Europe}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00467-025-06667-8}},
doi = {{10.1007/s00467-025-06667-8}},
volume = {{40}},
year = {{2025}},
}