NCT06693661

Collaborative Learning to Achieve Refined Interventions for Emory: Kidney Disease

Improving Access to Nephrology Treatment and Care Among Patients at Greatest Risk for Kidney Failure

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 600 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Emory University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Through the use of community-engaged processes, this project seeks to develop and implement clinical decision support (CDS) and a kidney health coaching (KHC) intervention. The CDS seeks to streamline workflows to effectively screen, identify, and link to care for those patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The overall project goals are to 1.) Design and conduct community-engaged clinical trials to test new interventions that dismantle the systemic factors that contribute to kidney health disparities. 2.) Foster research collaborations between investigators, people living with kidney disease, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders. Researchers aim to assess whether the KHC intervention is effective at delaying the transition to kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and central venous catheter use or death.

Detailed description

The team aims to implement multi-level, multi-component interventions across primary care and acute care access points and nephrology care, using an experimental 2-group randomized controlled trial, to assess the effectiveness of a kidney health coaching intervention on delaying a) the transition to kidney replacement therapy and central venous catheter use and b) death. The research team will deliver patient-centered kidney health coaching through full-time kidney health coaches (KHCs), who have lived experience with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and have been selected for certain personality characteristics. The KHCs have undergone training to deliver patient support that aligns with the constructs of the Chronic Care Model: Clinical information systems, Patient self-management, and treatment decision-making support, Delivery system redesign, and Community resources. Participants enrolled in the intervention will receive 6 months of kidney health coaching. Those eligible for participation will be invited to participate and undergo the informed consent process via telephone. Next, study staff will administer the baseline assessment via telephone interview for those who consent.

Conditions

• Kidney Diseases

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Kidney Health Coaching	The intervention entails support from a KHC that includes: * An initial rapport-building call * Ongoing telephone support at least twice a month for six months * Meeting the patient at all in-person clinic appointments * Documenting interactions in the EMR using a customized platform Telephone support begins with a social determinants of health (SDoH) screening tool to identify barriers and facilitators to CKD self-management and appointment adherence. This tool provides access to local resources based on the patient's ZIP code. Subsequent calls will follow up on resource usage, review CKD educational materials and treatment options, complete the Decision Aid for Renal Therapy tool, and facilitate communication through the patient portal. Each call will start with specific goals (e.g., review National Kidney Foundation CKD materials) and conclude with goals for the next session.
OTHER	Usual Care	ER Discharge (d/c): Participants may receive consultations and support from Care Management in the ER, such as transportation or medication assistance. Follow-up by a social worker varies post-discharge. Hospital d/c: All hospitalized patients are assessed by the care management team to identify psychosocial needs and begin discharge planning, which may include follow-up appointments and resources. High-risk patients receive additional follow-up from a care transitions coordinator for 30 days post-discharge. Primary Care: Patients in primary care clinics have access to various support services. Those recently hospitalized or identified as high-risk receive care coordination from social workers. Internal referrals are managed by referral coordinators, while external referrals come from clinic staff. Discharge information is provided after visits. Nephrology: There are no coordinated support services for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving nephrology care.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-10
• Primary completion: 2028-03-01
• Completion: 2028-03-01
• First posted: 2024-11-18
• Last updated: 2026-03-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States