NAVKIDS²: a lesson in matching outcome measures to interventions

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Health Services Research
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children presents significant challenges.
• Marginalized populations face additional barriers to accessing evidence-based care.
• Patient navigator programs aim to mitigate these barriers and improve health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a patient navigation program on children with CKD from marginalized backgrounds.
• To assess the effectiveness of patient navigation in improving health outcomes and reducing care barriers.

Main Methods:

• The NAVKIDS trial enrolled 162 children with CKD.
• A patient navigation intervention was implemented.
• Quantitative self-reported health measures and qualitative data were collected.

Main Results:

• The intervention did not yield statistically significant quantitative changes in self-reported health.
• Qualitative findings revealed substantial reductions in caregiver strain.
• Facilitation of care coordination was a key benefit identified.

Conclusions:

• Patient navigation shows promise for supporting families of children with CKD, particularly in managing non-clinical aspects of care.
• Further research is needed to develop quantitative metrics for care coordination, empowerment, and self-management.
• Qualitative benefits like reduced caregiver burden are crucial and should be further explored.