Standardizing the digital frontier: A Nordic survey of remote patient management practice patterns and variations in peritoneal dialysis care

BackgroundRemote patient management (RPM) improves automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) care safety and efficiency, yet the detailed clinical pathway of its utilization remains variable. We investigated digital practice patterns, healthcare professional (HCP) perceptions, and potential gaps for RPMAPD implementation across peritoneal dialysis (PD) clinics in the Nordic countries.MethodsHCPs across 85 Nordic PD clinics were surveyed to evaluate the perceived clinical value, adoption importance, and specific practice patterns of RPM utilization.ResultsA total of 60 participants completed the survey, and 93.3% recognized the value of RPM for early identification of ultrafiltration deficits and catheter-related complications. Thirty-five percent of respondents reported the absence of standardized RPM protocols, and 20% were unaware of any existing protocol. Patterns of RPM utilization varied: while 61.7% reported that both physicians and nurses had access to RPM platforms, 65% of PD nurses reviewed RPM data at least twice a week, and 81% of physicians only reviewed data during regular patient visits or did not review the data at all. Among physicians, 38% reported routinely showing RPM data to patients during clinic visits, and 19% never showed the data. Despite the inconsistency of RPM utilization, 63% of respondents considered developing standardized RPM protocols to be very or extremely important, and 65% expressed interest in optimizing RPM implementation and clinical integration.ConclusionsThe clinical value of RPMAPD was well recognized among Nordic HCPs; however, its implementation remained inconsistent, and physician engagement in routine use of remote monitoring (RM) tools appeared limited. Standardized protocols and consistent training were deemed essential to optimize RM in routine PD practice.