CKD Knowledge and CKD Report Card Use During a Nephrology Encounter: A Randomized Trial

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Health Education
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Higher chronic kidney disease (CKD) knowledge and health literacy (HL) are linked to better patient outcomes.
• Understanding the impact of educational interventions on CKD knowledge is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if the CKD Report Card intervention effectively increased CKD knowledge among patients.
• To determine if the intervention's effectiveness varied based on patients' health literacy levels.

Main Methods:

• A block-randomized trial was conducted in an urban academic nephrology clinic.
• Patients with CKD stage 3 or above received either the CKD Report Card (intervention) or standard care (control) before their visit.
• Kidney Knowledge Survey scores were measured pre- and post-visit to determine knowledge change.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a significant increase in CKD knowledge (19.2 points) compared to the control group (0.9 points).
• The CKD Report Card intervention led to a greater difference in score change (-18.4 points) compared to the control group.
• No significant difference in knowledge gain was observed between patients with adequate and inadequate health literacy in either group.

Conclusions:

• The CKD Report Card is an effective, low-cost intervention for enhancing CKD knowledge.
• The intervention improved CKD knowledge for all patients, regardless of their health literacy level.
• The study highlights the potential of simple educational tools in managing chronic kidney disease.