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Abstract: SA-PO855

Where Patients Get Their CKD Information: Perceptions Vary by Individual Demographics

Session Information

Category: CKD (Non-Dialysis)

  • 2101 CKD (Non-Dialysis): Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Authors

  • Wright, Julie, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • Oliverio, Andrea L., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • Pai, Amy Barton, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • Norman, Silas, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • Fagerlin, Angela, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Background

Patient education is a critical first step in the pathway to improved outcomes. Little data is available about sources of CKD information that patients perceive as most useful, and whether perceptions vary with patient characteristics.

Methods

Adults with CKD Stages 1-5 were enrolled in a cross-sectional survey. Eleven questions assessed patient ratings (1=not at all helpful to 5=extremely helpful) of specific sources of kidney information (e.g. healthcare providers, peer mentors, internet). Patients also answered questions about their perceptions of communication by providers and how well they thought providers communicate with each other (0=do not communicate at all to 4=outstanding communication). Associations between patient demographics and summarized patient ratings were examined using linear regression.

Results

245 patients enrolled with a mean age of 60 years, mean eGFR of 34 mL/min/1.73m2, 49% were men, 80% White, 15% African American, 5% other and/or multiple races. Summarized patient ratings for each source of kidney information were: Kidney doctors (mean 4.7, SD 0.9), PCPs (3.4, 1.5), nurses (2.8, 1.9), dieticians (2.6, 2.1), Internet (2.2, 1.8), handouts/brochures (1.8, 1.6), social workers (1.6, 1.9), family/friends (1.2, 1.7), classes (1.1, 1.7), news (0.9, 1.2), peer mentoring (0.7, 1.3). Most patients reported it was NOT difficult to talk with their doctors about CKD (213, 92%), and rated overall communication fair (mean 2.9, SD 1.1). In analyses adjusted for age, sex, race, education, income, and eGFR the following were significantly associated with summarized patient ratings: 1. Women rated kidney doctors higher compared to men (β 0.26, p=0.03), higher eGFR predicted lower ratings for dieticians (-0.02, 0.01), higher income predicted lower ratings for social workers (-0.20, 0.01), Nonwhite race predicted higher ratings for family/friends (0.78, <0.01) for brochures/handouts (0.36, 0.02) and a trend for peer mentors (0.26, 0.07), older age predicted lower ratings (-0.03, <0.01) and more education higher ratings (0.20, 0.03) for Internet.

Conclusion

Patient perceptions about the usefulness of kidney information from different sources vary significantly by patient demographics. More work is needed to explore reasons for, and interventions to improve, disparities in these perceptions.

Funding

  • NIDDK Support