Table 2 Potential strategies to improve control ofdietary phosphorus intake and adherence to phosphate binders in patients with ESRD

Patient education

• Introduce education programs, led by nurses or other ancillary healthcare providers,focusing on the:

  ◦ Physiologic role of phosphate and its presence in different foods

  ◦ Role of phosphate in ESRD-associated cardiovascular disease

  ◦ Importance of phosphate binders and their role in lowering serum phosphorusconcentrations

  ◦ Importance of dietary adherence

• Involve patients’ families and friends in education initiatives

• Tailor education to patient’s lifestyle, environment, career, ethnicity, cultural background and socioeconomic status

• Educate patients on appropriate food choices and provide training on preparing suitable meals

Patient empowerment

• Introduce initiatives such as the ‘Phosphate Education Program’ that enable patients with hyperphosphatemia to estimate the phosphate content of their meals and adjust their phosphate binder dose accordingly

Improve properties of phosphate binders

• Reduce pill size and burden

• Improve palatability

• Reduce associated adverse effects

• Introduce electronic monitoring devices, which may help patients to remember to take their medication and support adherence