Enhanced Fluid Assessment tool for patients with Acute Kidney Injury

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A study to support the development of the Enhanced Fluid Assessment tool for patients with Acute Kidney Injury

• IRAS ID

  293508

• Contact name

  Natalie Pattison

• Contact email

  natalie.pattison@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Hertfordshire

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is the sudden and recent reduction in kidney function. This can be detected by measuring a rise in blood creatinine level or from a reduction in urine. Reasons for developing AKI, include dehydration, low blood pressure, medication and infection. When the kidneys stop working, there can be a build-up of toxins and fluid.
  It is extremely important to identify a patient’s fluid status as too little can cause further damage to the kidneys and too much can be harmful. Assessment is varied and often inaccurate and there needs to be a standard approach to fluid assessment.

  Aim:
  To develop an Enhanced Fluid Assessment Tool.

  Workstream 1:
  Aim: To identify what methods are useful to assess fluid in a patient with AKI.
  I will identify fluid assessment techniques used; undertake a structured assessment of fluid; determine the accuracy of this assessment by using bioimpedance, which measures fluid in the body. I will also discuss with patients any signs and symptoms they are experiencing such as swollen legs and feeling dizzy to identify if this is useful in assessing fluid status.

  Workstream 2:
  Aim: To identify the best methods of determining fluid status in a patient with AKI
  The findings from Workstream 1 will be used to develop a questionnaire, to ask experts from all over the world which is the most important assessment tool and ask them to rank this from the most important to the least. This will lead to the development of the enhanced fluid assessment tool.

  Workstream 3:
  Aim: To assess if the tool is practical and clinically useful in determining a patient’s fluid status.
  I will aim to ask nurses if they understand the terminology and the language used. I will see how practical it is to use this tool and if it is clinically useful to use in determining a patient’s fluid status.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/YH/0037

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Feb 2022

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion