New tool assesses patients’ kidney disease–re

By FYH News Team

Published on March 24, 2022

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Researchers have developed and validated a new instrument to measure CKD- and transplant-related knowledge in a racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse group of patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease.

Washington, DC (March 24, 2022) — Many individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those with early stages of the disease, those belonging to minority groups, and those whose primary language is not English, may not have adequate knowledge about their condition or be informed about their treatment options. In a study published in CJASN, researchers describe how they developed and tested a new instrument to measure CKD- and transplant-related knowledge.

The tool, called KART 2.0, was created by a team led by John Devin Peipert, PhD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine) and Amy D Waterman, PhD (J.C. Walter Transplant Center & Houston Methodist Research Institute). KART 2.0 was validated in a racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse group of 977 patients with moderate to severe CKD in the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Health system.

“We know that it’s important, as early as possible, to help patients orient to their own CKD diagnosis and make plans for what they might do if their kidneys failed,” said Dr. Waterman. By capturing how much patients know about various aspects of their disease and about the benefits and risks associated with getting a kidney transplant, the tool will give clinicians and researchers a reliable way to identify patients with CKD in most need of education and counselling.

“Without adequate knowledge, patients cannot make informed decisions about their treatments, and likely cannot be active participants in their own kidney care. Educational interventions can help reduce these critical gaps in knowledge,” said Dr. Peipert. “By rigorously developing and validating new tools to capture CKD and transplant knowledge, we have helped advance the science around transplant education.”

An accompanying editorial notes that “it will be important to test if the KART 2.0 can be used as a tool to predict outcomes relevant to increasing parity for patients with kidney failure, including pursuit and receipt of deceased or living donor transplant among patients with documented disparate access.”

An accompanying Patient Voice written by a family member engaged in the care of an individual with kidney disease offers additional perspectives and questions related to the KART 2.0 tool.

Study authors include Devika Nair, MD, MSCI; Intan Purnajo, MPH; Kerri L. Cavanaugh, MD, MHS; and Brian S. Mittman, PhD.

Disclosures: The authors reported no financial disclosures.

The article, titled “The Knowledge Assessment of Renal Transplantation (KART) 2.0: Development and Validation of Chronic Kidney Disease and Transplant Knowledge Scales,” will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on March 24, 2022, doi: 10.2215/CJN.11490821.

The editorial, titled “Measuring Disease and Transplant Knowledge among Patients with Advanced CKD: Tools to Increase Access and Advance Equity,” will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on March 24, 2022, doi: 10.2215/CJN.02140222.

The Patient Voice, titled “Knowledge Measurement Can Point to Opportunities, but Has Limits,” will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on March 24, 2022, doi: 10.2215/CJN.02240222.

The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.

About ASN
Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has more than 20,000 members representing 132 countries. For more information, visit www.asn-online.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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Journal

Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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