CURRENT PRACTICE IN RENAL ANAEMIA MANAGEMENT: TWO MULTINATIONAL SURVEYS

The European Best Practice Guidelines recommend that 85% of patients with standard causes of chronic renal failure should achieve a target haemoglobin concentration of >= 11 g/dL. However, patient outcomes need to be improved as many patients respond suboptimally to treatment and fail to reach these targets. Two multinational surveys of nursing practice in the management of renal anaemia in northern (with comparative data from Australia) and southern Europe were conducted. The aim was to assess variations in the role and amount of responsibility delegated to nurses in renal units throughout Europe and Australia. Patient care could be optimised by developing formal training and educational programmes for nephrology nurses and this has already occurred in many units in the UK.