A bundled phosphate control intervention (4Ds) for adults with end-stage kidney disease receiving haemodialysis: A...

To evaluate the effectiveness of a bundled self-management intervention (taking control of your phosphate with the 4Ds) to improve phosphate control among adults receiving haemodialysis.

Hyperphosphataemia occurs in end-stage kidney disease and is managed by diet, drinks, drugs (phosphate binder medication), and dialysis (the 4Ds). Adherence to the 4Ds is challenging for patients.

A pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial with repeated measures.

Participants were adults receiving haemodialysis with high serum phosphate (>1.6 mmol/L for at least 3 months) recruited between August 2017 -May 2018. Cluster randomization was according to haemodialysis treatment shifts. The 'teach-back' intervention was designed to improve phosphate control. Expected outcomes were reduced serum phosphate and increased knowledge of phosphate in end-stage kidney disease, self-efficacy and adherence to diet, drugs, and dialysis.

There were no differences between groups at baseline. Both groups had similar mean serum phosphate over time; at three months, 46% of the intervention group achieved reductions that met the target serum phosphate level compared with 33% of the control group. There were significant improvements in knowledge of phosphate in end-stage kidney disease, self-efficacy and adherence to diet, drugs, and dialysis (missing) in the intervention group compared with control group.

The 4Ds, a bundled self-management intervention, was effective in improving patient confidence and adherence to phosphate control methods.

The 4Ds intervention bundles together four essential strategies for preventing and controlling hyperphosphataemia in end-stage kidney disease.

ACTRN12617000703303 Registered 16/05/2017.