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Abstract: FR-PO519

Physician-Led CKD Education Improves Quality and Reduces Cost of Care in Patients with ESRD

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 703 Dialysis: Peritoneal Dialysis

Authors

  • Fischbach, Bernard V., Dallas Nephrology Associates, Dallas, Texas, United States
  • Gonzalez, Stevan A., Baylor Scott & White, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
  • Collazo-Maldonado, Roberto L., Dallas Nephrology Associates, Dallas, Texas, United States
  • Mehta, Ankit, Dallas Nephrology Associates, Dallas, Texas, United States
  • Liang, Alexander, Dallas Nephrology Associates, Dallas, Texas, United States
  • Lauriat, Sandra M., Dallas Nephrology Associates, Dallas, Texas, United States
Background

Healthcare providers are tasked with reducing costs and improving patient awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patient educational initiatives may reduce costs and improve outcomes.

Methods

We developed a large-scale physician-led CKD education program. We performed a retrospective review of all dialysis initiates over a 24-month period and evaluated outcomes based on participation in educational programs.

Results

A total of 1294 dialysis initiations were analyzed and 621 patients (48%) attended at least one class. No differences in participation were observed based on gender, race, or primary language spoken. Overall participation in educational workshops was associated with decreased intravascular catheter use, increased home dialysis modalities, and decreased hospitalization for dialysis initiation (p<0.001). Attendance when stratified by no participation vs. 1-2 sessions vs. ≥ 3 sessions revealed a progressive trend towards decreased intravascular catheters, in-center dialysis modalities, and hospitalization for dialysis initiation (p<0.001; Figure). In multivariate analysis, the associations between participation in CKD education and decreased likelihood of intravascular catheter access (OR 0.55; p<0.001), decreased in-center hemodialysis modality (OR 0.48; p<0.001), and increased in-center hemodialysis initiation vs. hospital (OR 2.02; p<0.001) were independent of race, gender, age, or primary language spoken.

Conclusion

Patients with CKD who participate in physician-led educational programs are less likely to need urgent dialysis, which results in decreased use of intravascular catheters, and hospitalization for dialysis initiation. They are also more likely to utilize home dialysis modalities. Development of patient educational programs could significantly reduce costs and improve outcomes in this population.

CKD Edu - Outcomes; n=1294