Abstract: TH-OR71
Impact of a Home Dialysis Virtual Longitudinal Education Series
Session Information
- Home Dialysis Hodgepodge: Novel Mechanisms, Solutions, Technologies, and Ideas
October 24, 2024 | Location: Room 8, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 05:40 PM - 05:50 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 802 Dialysis: Home Dialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors
- Ye, Wen Qing Wendy, University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Saxena, Anjali B., Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States
- Leigh, Kerry, American Society of Nephrology, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Reddy, Yuvaram N.V., University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Background
Home dialysis has clinical benefits over in-center hemodialysis (HD), yet as of 2020, home dialysis use is low at 13.3% in the United States. One barrier to expanding home dialysis is a lack of experience amongst fellows due to inadequate training opportunities. In 2023, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) launched the Home Dialysis Virtual Longitudinal Education Program with Home Dialysis University (HDU) to increase exposure for fellows through virtual case-based discussions. We aimed to understand the impact of this program.
Methods
We evaluated the ASN-HDU program using mixed-methods. We sampled participants from (1) fellows who attended HDU and the ASN virtual program (ASN-HDU), and (2) fellows who only attended HDU from Aug-Sep 2023. We sent a survey in Sep 2023 to assess baseline comfort in home dialysis. Results of the survey were used to design the interview guide for qualitative thematic analysis. We used a constant comparative method to identify themes that described the participant’s experiences with home dialysis and the impact of the ASN-HDU program.
Results
Survey response rates were 65.5% (19/29) and 50% (33/66) in the ASN-HDU arm and HDU arm, respectively. Participants felt comfortable with management of peritoneal dialysis but not home HD (Fig 1). We completed 10 semi-structured interviews between Dec 2023 – Mar 2024, with 5 participants from the ASN-HDU arm and 5 from the HDU arm. Three themes emerged: (1) HDU complements fellowship training by filling in gaps in home dialysis knowledge, (2) the ASN virtual program provides an opportunity for longitudinal exposure to topics learned during HDU, which helps retain knowledge and incorporate learning into practice, and (3) all participants voiced desire for more exposure to home dialysis including in-person training, and expansion of the ASN-HDU program.
Conclusion
Baseline survey results suggest a lack of comfort in home HD. ASN-HDU trainees felt the program addresses training gaps in home dialysis and provides an opportunity to retain knowledge. Results from a follow-up survey, sent May 2024, will be available at Kidney Week to evaluate changes in comfort levels among ASN-HDU fellows.
Funding
- Other U.S. Government Support