ACT for dialysis v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient consultation over the adaptation of psycho-educational materials based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for patients receiving renal dialysis
IRAS ID
267104
Contact name
James Elander
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Derby
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Patients whose kidneys fail completely need treatment with dialysis or transplantation. Although life-saving, dialysis can place a burden on patients as it is time consuming and can cause a variety of symptoms, for example tiredness and fatigue. A form of psychology therapy called acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) aims to help people engage more productively in ways of living that are consistent with their life goals and values, in spite of their health and medical difficulties. ACT has not been tested in dialysis patients previously, but we do know that it is safe, suitable and effective in other long term medical conditions.
The purpose of this project is to consult patients about how psycho-educational materials based on ACT can be specifically adapted to make them appropriate and suitable for patients on dialysis. The project will involve 20 patients with end-stage renal disease who receive renal dialysis, and will take place at the Dialysis Unit at the Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, UK.
The 20 patients will take part in individual interviews to be consulted about how the materials based on ACT should be adapted for patients on dialysis, including how they should be presented to patients. The materials are in the form of brief case descriptions of four fictitious dialysis patients, which feature different difficulties and challenges associated with renal disease and dialysis treatment. The case descriptions also illustrate ways in which the fictitious patients were helped to overcome those challenges by using techniques based on ACT, including mindfulness and thought diffusion.
In the interviews, patients will be shown the case descriptions and asked how they could be further adapted and improved to make them more meaningful, relevant and useful for dialysis patients, and how materials like these should be presented to dialysis patients for most convenient and effective use.
A separate, future project is then expected to trial the materials with dialysis patients in order to make sure they are acceptable to patients, ready for larger scale testing in future, more definitive research studies.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0281
Date of REC Opinion
10 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion