Investigating patient experiences of chronic kidney disease

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Applying World Café as a novel qualitative method of investigating patient experiences of chronic kidney disease through a retrospective lens post-kidney transplant (Kidney Cafe)

  • IRAS ID

    367012

  • Contact name

    Dan Jones

  • Contact email

    dan.jones@reading.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Reading

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 1 months, 7 days

  • Research summary

    Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a chronic disease with no cure, and disruptive and invasive management methods at the later stages of renal failure. CKD is one of the leading causes of mortality world-wide, and little is known about the impact of disease progression on quality of life. This PPI project in collaboration with Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) will seek to understand more about the experience of patients, and what stakeholders consider priorities for research and practice. The main target sample is patients with CKD in receipt of a kidney transplant at the RBH, predominantly recruited through patient registers and transplant nurses, will be asked to share their experiences and views in an informal group discussion in a cafe-style setting (World Cafe). World Cafe is a participatory approach to systematic discussion aiming to achieve organisational change and/or assess views and knowledge within a stakeholder group. This method is being applied as a qualitative data collection tool to facilitate conversation concerning experiences of renal care at the RBH, and combining of ideas regarding the future and value of psychology research and practice endeavours in this context.

    Sub-studies within the project will also recruit healthcare professionals and informal caregivers (those not employed to provide care, such as family members) of these patients, to offer alternative perspectives on patient experiences in a focus group setting. Groups of informal caregivers will meet online with the researcher to discuss experiences of psychological wellbeing in the patient from the perspective of the informal caregiver, and the value of psychological intervention from this view point. Similarly, groups of renal healthcare professionals at RBH will meet online with the researcher to discuss experiences of psychological wellbeing in patients from the perspective of the healthcare professional, and directions for psychology's input.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 7

  • REC reference

    26/WA/0139

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 May 2026

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion