Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO0606

Efficacy of the eKidney Clinic, an Internet-Based, Multimedia Patient Education Tool for CKD, Among Veterans and Their Caregivers

Session Information

• CKD: Clinical - Guidelines, Biomarkers, Progression, Procedures, Outcomes, and More
  October 22, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: CKD (Non-Dialysis)

• 2202 CKD (Non-Dialysis): Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

• Copeland, Brayden, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia, United States

Brayden Copeland

• Brewer, Benjamin, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, Virginia, United States

Benjamin Brewer, MS, PhD

• Kumar, Rohit, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia, United States

Rohit Kumar

• Choudhury, Devasmita, Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, Virginia, United States

Devasmita Choudhury, MD, FASN

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 1 in 6 veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is viewed as the largest kidney care provider in the US. CKD is often asymptomatic, making effective education vital for disease management. Most educational resources are not developed at the appropriate 5^th-6^th grade literacy level, limiting their effectiveness. The VA's web-based e-Kidney Clinic is a free, multimedia resource developed at the appropriate literacy level. Using this platform as a teaching tool for CKD patients and their caregivers at the Salem VA Medical Center, we aimed to evaluate knowledge growth using the standardized Kidney Disease Knowledge Survey (KiKS) after site use.

Methods

A total of 250 participants were enrolled, consisting of veterans with CKD stages 1-5, and their caregivers. Participants were guided through the first website module and provided with instructions to continue accessing the website independently. Baseline knowledge was assessed at enrollment and reassessed at the subsequent study visit. The site's efficacy as an educational tool was assessed by measuring the changes in KiKs scores after platform use. Participants also completed surveys reporting demographic information, time spent on the website, and their assessment of the platform's usability.

Results

The mean participant age was 66.7 years, 78.3% of subjects were male, 73.1% were Caucasian, and 67% had at least some college education. Study participant scores (n=195) improved an average of 6.68 percentage points after education, equivalent to a mean improvement of 1.87 questions. Caregivers (n=26) demonstrated a greater improvement, with a mean increase of 8 percentage points after education and an additional 2.42 questions answered correctly on average. CKD patients improved by a mean of 6.39 percentage points, equivalent to an additional 1.79 questions answered correctly on average. There was no significant association between age, gender, race, education, and time on the platform and the change in score on KiKs examinations.

Conclusion

The e-Kidney clinic platform fosters statistically significant knowledge growth among both patients and their caregivers, regardless of demographics, on standardized knowledge assessments. This supports the hypothesis that appropriately developed educational materials can improve overall CKD knowledge.