Barriers to Peritoneal Dialysis Selection

The purpose of this study is to understand what prevents chronic kidney disease patients from making a timely decision about dialysis modality options. This understanding will allow us to develop and implement interventions to assist patients in this turning point so that they can make the right decision for them in a timely enough manner so that each patient can start dialysis in the safest and best way for them. 200 later stage chronic kidney disease patients (20% or less of kidney function remaining) will be asked to participate in the study with the goal of having 150 patients participate in the study.

Hypotheses:

1. 50 % of patients will have made a modality decision when interviewed and patients in the action stage of behavior will be more likely to make a modality selection than patients in earlier stages of behavior change. Barriers to modality selection will act at several levels including patient, provider and health system level and will vary by behavioral stage of change
2. 10-15% of patients might choose home dialysis. Knowledge, self efficacy in terms of CKD, education, and income will likely be barriers to home dialysis choice.

The study population will consist of patients with late stage CKD and ESRD patients who are cared for by nephrologists at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients of age greater than or equal to 18 years at MHMC who are late stage CKD

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have acute renal failure and then recover renal function to levels of eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) 20 mL/min/1.73m2 and in whom the nephrologist feels will not progress to ESRD in 2 years
• Patients who are not candidates for peritoneal dialysis
• Pregnant women