Improving Adherence in Renal Dialysis Patients Through Electronic Interventions

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Endstage Renal Disease

In brief

Dialysis treatment non-adherence is a prevalent problem among the end-stage renal population receiving chronic hemodialysis. The complications associated with missed or shortened dialysis sessions are serious and frequently require emergent medical care or hospitalization. Previous studies have shown that electronic messages have significantly improved attendance rates in a primary care setting, but these messages have not been validated in the chronic dialysis population. An electronic intervention has been developed by Epharmix, a WUSTL IDEA Labs (ideas.wustl.edu) team, which has the capacity to use automated SMS text messages and/or phone calls to notify patients prior to each upcoming appointment, as well as alert a designated patient advocate. Patients receiving the messages are provided with key contact information for a dialysis rescheduling phone line, transportation resources, social work services, etc. They may also receive instructions on what to do if they are experiencing physical symptoms and need educational facts about dialysis. In particular, the intervention is designed to demonstrate to patients that the center cares and is concerned for their health and wellbeing. This intervention may potentially improve patient adherence to their scheduled sessions, increase patient satisfaction with their treatment, and prevent medical complications associated with missed dialysis appointments. This study aims to determine whether an electronic intervention, which sends SMS text messages or phone calls of key dialysis treatment information, is able to improve dialysis treatment session attendance among dialysis patients with a history of poor attendance. We secondarily aim to identify the factors that may be barriers to dialysis treatment session attendance and the emergency department or hospital utilization associated with missed dialysis treatments. Patients will be prospectively identified, recruited, and randomized into two groups. Group A will receive the electronic intervention prior to their appointments; Group B will not receive any electronic intervention. After 8 weeks, crossover will occur for both groups and the study will continue for an additional 8 weeks. Participants' clinic records will be reviewed to determine the numbers of missed and attended appointments, as well as records of ED visits and hospital admissions. Subjects will be asked to complete a post-study satisfaction questionnaire.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02970201

Run by

Washington University School of Medicine

People needed

26

Starts

2015-02-01

Expected to finish

2016-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-05-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• All potential subjects are between 18 and 75 years of age, and have been receiving hemodialysis treatments, scheduled for 3 sessions/week, for at least 8 weeks at the Chromalloy American Kidney Center or Washington University Dialysis Center.
• The individuals will be prospectively identified as whether they have a history of occasional non-attendance to dialysis treatments, defined as 2-3 missed appointments in the preceding 8 week period or 24 scheduled sessions. These subjects will be enrolled as part of one cohort. Individuals who have frequent non-attendance, defined as 4-6 missed appointments in the preceding 8 week period or 24 scheduled sessions, will be enrolled as a second cohort.
• Subjects must be able to provide a phone number at which they can either receive SMS text messages and/or phone calls. The cost of messages will be paid for by the sender. Subjects must be able and willing to provide consent and authorize access of their medical record and dialysis clinic record for study use.

You may not qualify if…

• Persons not receiving ongoing hemodialysis treatments or new patients with less than 8 weeks of treatments at the dialysis center.
• Persons not intended to receive 3 dialysis treatments/week for the next 8 weeks.
• Pregnant individuals.
• Persons unable to be contacted by phone call or SMS text message, or unwilling to provide their contact number.
• Persons unwilling to consent and follow the assigned regimen and complete the required follow up.
• Persons with severe neurological or cognitive disorders, limiting their ability to provide consent.

Where it is running

• Washington University School of Medicine - Barnes Jewish Hospital — St Louis, Missouri, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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