Treatment burden and capacity in chronic kidney disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding treatment burden and enhancing capacity for older people with chronic kidney disease
IRAS ID
245084
Contact name
SDS Fraser
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
31867, ERGO Reference ; 245084, IRAS Reference; 17-004, Kidney Care UK and British Renal Society
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common long-term condition affecting about a third of older people in the UK. Mild or moderate CKD can progress to severe CKD and, in some cases, requires renal replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplantation). Among older people, CKD usually occurs alongside other long-term health problems. Long-term conditions bring demands such as the need for appointments, tests, medications, travel, disease-monitoring, lifestyle changes and hospital admissions. These have been described as the ‘treatment burden’ and people’s ability to manage them as ‘capacity’. Moderate CKD may not incur much treatment burden but, if it gets more severe, this may change. Patients may be asked to follow specific diets, attend more appointments or take new medications. The overall treatment burden may be considerable, particularly alongside other conditions (each bringing their own burden), but relatively little is known about this, or what capacity entails for older people who have CKD.
This research aims to understand the nature and perception of treatment burden and capacity for people with CKD who do not currently need renal replacement therapy (i.e. those not on dialysis or with a renal transplant).
We will carry out qualitative interviews with about thirty people with differing severities of CKD to explore their experiences and views on what aspects of managing the condition are burdensome, and insights they have about what helps. We will also use focus group discussions with healthcare teams who look after people with CKD to explore their views on treatment burden and strengthening patient capacity.
This improved understanding would allow healthcare teams to appreciate (and possibly lessen) the challenges of managing CKD. It may influence the NHS to organise care for older people with CKD in more joined-up ways that consider treatment burden. It would help patients identify and describe what they face and how they cope.REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1804
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion