Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis: A Feasibility Study

Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) wishing to choose Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) may not be able to perform this modality due to advanced age, physical function/dexterity, vision, cognition, mobility, or psychosocial issues. This intervention will seek to test the feasibility of a clinical support model to address these barriers. Patients identified by their nephrologist as wishing to choose Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), but needing assistance, are referred to the research staff for discussion and consent. Based on the assessment of the subject's nephrologist, PD staff, and researchers, the subject will receive assistance beyond the standard PD care offered in US dialysis centers. Such assistance will be provided for up to one visit/day, seven days/week, for up to three months. At the end of that time period, the subject will be able to perform PD independently, have identified a care provider, or have planned with his/her nephrologist for an alternative dialysis modality.

A patient identified by his/her nephrologist or the WellBound dialysis staff as a candidate for Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) who meets the inclusion criteria will be referred to the research staff for a discussion of the study and consent. A referral to this program can come from any physician referring to participating centers. Each subject consented into the study receives the standard of care education and training for home PD, in addition to the usual insertion of a PD catheter. The subject is then transferred to home PD with an individualized assistance plan and research follow-up. The subject receives the assistance of up to one visit per day depending on the subject's needs, as assessed by the interdisciplinary team, the nephrologist, and the primary investigator or delegate. The assistance will be provided by a research associate who has undergone full training in the PD techniques required to assist the PD subject at home. Every 4 weeks the PI or delegate reviews the subject's progress with the nephrologist and nephrology nurse to assess further assistance needs. Total assistance of up to 3 months is provided after which the subject is either independent, has a care provider, or has developed a plan with his/her nephrologist for future dialysis care.

A mixed-methods feasibility design using quantitative and qualitative techniques will be used to meet the aims of this study.

The patient receives assistance of up to one visit per day for three months depending on the patient's needs, as assessed by the interdisciplinary team, the nephrologist, and the primary investigator or delegate.

To explore the feasibility of an assisted PD program by assessing the outcome of participant Peritoneal Dialysis independence.

Measure the number of patients able to independently continue Peritoneal Dialysis out of all patients referred to the program.

To explore the feasibility of an assisted PD program by measuring the effect on the program on the participant's ability to maintain PD as the treatment modality.

Change in the number of patients who remain on Peritoneal dialysis after assistance as reflected in the dialysis unit records from 1 month to 12 months.

Assessment of the baseline demographics of the patient as routinely collected in the dialysis record.

Measured by the Patient Activation Measure: PAM-13 survey. This is a 100 point scale with lower scores designating an individual with less ability to manage his/her health and healthcare.

Measured by the Renal Patient Outcome Scale: IPOS-Renal survey which is composed of 11 questions on renal symptoms and patient issues with higher scores indicating greater distress.

Measured by a simple LIkert Patient Satisfaction Scale ranging from 1 - 5 with higher results indicating greater satisfaction.

Inclusion Criteria: Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients identified as needing staff-assistance: Incident peritoneal dialysis patients from participating centers identified by referring nephrologists or PD staff to need the service. OR Prevalent PD patients who experience a change in status, making them in need of the service. Criteria for needing assistance: The patient has one of the following criteria that prevents him or her from an independent PD program as assessed by their nephrologist, and nephrology nurse: advanced age, physical function/dexterity, vision, cognition, mobility, psychosocial issues or other. Exclusion Criteria: Age less than 18 years Unable to understand English (because of the need to complete the consent form and survey instruments which are available only in English).

Hussein WF, Bennett PN, Anwaar A, Atwal J, Legg V, Abra G, Zheng S, Pravoverov L, Schiller B. Implementation of a Staff-Assisted Peritoneal Dialysis Program in the United States: A Feasibility Study. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2022 May;17(5):703-705. doi: 10.2215/CJN.00940122. Epub 2022 Apr 5. No abstract available.