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Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO261

The Effect of Peer Mentoring on Caregiver Burden Among Caregivers of Patients with CKD

Session Information

Category: CKD (Non-Dialysis)

  • 1902 CKD (Non-Dialysis): Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

  • Alkhasoneh, Mo'Tasem, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Al Zein, Said, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Liaghat, Tara, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Ghahramani, Nasrollah, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Background

Caregivers play a fundamental role in the treatment and management of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Caregiver burden may result from providing care to patients with CKD and is often overlooked by clinicians. Peer mentoring is an effective educational strategy which may result in improvement in caregiver burden. This study compares the effect of peer mentoring (face-to-face and online) with usual care on caregiver burden among caregivers of patients with CKD.

Methods

A 16-hour structured program trained CKD patients and their caregivers to become peer mentors to newly diagnosed patients with CKD and their caregivers. Caregivers of patients with stage 4 or stage 5 CKD were randomly assigned either to face-to-face (FTF) peer mentoring, online peer mentoring, or usual care (control). For the FTF group, the frequency of contact by a mentor was weekly by phone and monthly FTF visit. For the online mentorship, the frequency of contact by mentor was weekly by the online platform, and more frequently as initiated by the mentee. The mentorships were maintained for at least 6 months. Usual care participants received a printed copy of an information handbook about care of the patient with CKD. We used the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) to measure caregiver burden at baseline and at 12 months. The ZBI is a self-administered questionnaire of 22 items, which measures the impact of caregiving in psychological, physical and social domains. The items are ranked on a five-point Likert scale and the total score is calculated; higher scores indicating heavier burden. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare the change in ZBI scores from baseline to 12 months.

Results

A total of 61 caregivers completed the 12 month assessment. Baseline ZBI score and demographic characteristics (mean age, highest grade of education, gender and race distribution) were similar among the 3 groups. There was a significant decrease in the mean ZBI score for the online mentoring group (23.9±10.7 vs. 12.8 ± 12.3; p=0.03). There was a slight (non-significant) improvement in ZBI among the FTF group and among the control group.

Conclusion

Compared with face-to-face mentoring and information only education, online peer mentoring is associated with improved scores in caregiver burden among caregivers of patients with advanced CKD.

Funding: PCORI

Funding

  • Other U.S. Government Support