Counselling education for the Management of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Abstract

By correctly using counselling techniques the nephrology team can face and manage the relationship with patients affected by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), so that patients can consciously prepare to the therapeutic pathway, actively changing their everyday life and improving their own lifestyle. Counselling is a conscious and strategic way of using information and capabilities to optimally manage the patient-doctor relationship; it is about warm reception, dialogue, communication, support, clear explanation, reassurance, and guidance. The main objective of counselling is to help patients making decisions that can determine a real change in life, recognizing and getting on with all the efforts to overcome the difficulties, by optimizing the personal, familiar, and cultural resources. The counsellor abilities help the patient to start speaking about his/her problems by constructing a positive environment in which to feel at ease. The main tool for building a positive relation is active listening. The counselling applicability and usefulness in the context of Nephrology is evident: in fact, a trustful relationship between the actors involved (patient-doctor) is the basis of any effective health intervention. The keys to the therapeutic success are building a deep doctor-patient relationship, creating a better communication with the healthcare team, negotiating the collaboration at every single visit, and timely managing the adverse events.