Prompt: Starting Peritoneal Dialysis — Patient Information Letter

Starting Peritoneal Dialysis — Patient Information Letter

Use this prompt to draft a practical information letter for a patient who is preparing to start peritoneal dialysis (PD). Review against your unit's current PD training and protocol before distributing.

Draft a patient information letter about starting peritoneal dialysis 
for a patient aged [[patient_age — e.g. "60"]].

They will be starting [[pd_type — e.g. "continuous ambulatory 
peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)" or "automated peritoneal dialysis (APD)"]].

Cover:
- What peritoneal dialysis is in plain English (dialysis fluid 
  is put into the abdomen through a catheter; the lining of the 
  abdomen cleans the blood naturally; fluid is then drained)
- The difference between CAPD (manual exchanges during the day) 
  and APD (machine-assisted exchanges overnight) — or focus on 
  the specific type this patient will be starting
- What the training process involves: they will be taught by 
  the PD team before starting at home
- Practical daily life: the importance of strict cleanliness 
  during exchanges to prevent peritonitis (infection), 
  daily monitoring, dietary management continues
- Warning signs of peritonitis: cloudy drain fluid, abdominal 
  pain, fever — and to contact the PD team immediately
- What to expect in the first few weeks: some discomfort 
  from the catheter, adjusting to the routine
- Who to contact with questions or concerns

Do not include specific drug names or exchange volumes. 
Tone: practical and honest. Maximum 450 words.

Why this works

The explicit focus on peritonitis warning signs — and the instruction to contact the team immediately rather than waiting — is the most safety-critical part of any PD patient information document. Including it in the prompt ensures it appears prominently in the draft. The honest framing of the adjustment period ("some discomfort") prepares patients without alarming them.

How to tweak it

• For a patient who expressed concern about managing the equipment independently, add: "Acknowledge that learning to do peritoneal dialysis at home can feel daunting. Note that the PD training team will support them through the learning process and that people adapt well."
• For a patient who is also responsible for managing a household or caring for a family member, add: "Include a practical note about how exchanges can be fitted into a daily routine — that many people manage PD alongside normal household life once the routine is established."

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.