Knowledge, understanding and experiences of peritonitis amongst patients, and their families, undertaking peritoneal dialysis: A mixed methods study protocol.

AIM: This article is a report of a study protocol designed to examine patients' and families' knowledge and experiences of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: Peritonitis is a considerable problem for people using peritoneal dialysis, leading to antibiotics, hospitalization and decreased quality of life. For some patients, peritonitis requires changing renal replacement therapy and can be fatal. Peritonitis is distressing and some patients are unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms. Patients with better knowledge of peritonitis and adherence to peritoneal dialysis procedures have lower rates of peritonitis. Little is known about patients' and families' knowledge and experience of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis in the United Kingdom.

DESIGN: Ethical approval was gained in March 2017. To meet the study aim, a two-phase sequential explanatory mixed methods study is proposed.

METHODS: Phase One: An author-developed questionnaire will be sent to patients using peritoneal dialysis at five sites in England and Wales. Patients will be asked to consider inviting a relative to participate. The questionnaire will assess peritonitis knowledge and experience. Data will be analysed statistically. Phase Two: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a purposive sample of Phase One participants (n = 30) to explore their experiences of peritonitis in further depth. The data will be analysed thematically using Wolcott's (1994) approach.

DISCUSSION: Data from the two phases will be synthesized to identify patients' and families' peritonitis information needs, to ensure they are appropriately supported to prevent, monitor, identify and report peritonitis.