Contribution of Medicine Taking on Treatment Burden in CKD patients

Aim of the study

This research aims to understand how managing multiple medications affects people with chronic kidney disease who don't need dialysis or a transplant. We're looking at how taking many medications can be a burden and if it makes people less likely to stick to their treatment. We also want to know how managing your condition impacts your overall wellbeing.

Study type

Qualitative interview study.

Who is able to participate?

Individuals with chronic kidney disease who do not need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Where is the study happening?

The study is associated with the University of Portsmouth. However, interviews will be conducted at the participant's preferred location, which could be in-person, online, or by telephone.

Where is the study happening?

Open date - 01/07/2024
Closing date - 01/01/2025

How do I get involved?

You can get involved by partaking in a 60-minute interview (discussion) on how managing your condition affects your general wellbeing.


For more information contact;
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07490714124

Summary

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):

Chronic Kidney Disease is a common long-term illness that affects about 30% of older people in the UK. It often comes along with other long-term health problems. Having a long-term illness means taking on a lot of new responsibilities, like keeping doctor's appointments, getting medical tests, taking medicine, traveling for care, tracking the disease, changing your lifestyle, and sometimes going to the hospital. All these responsibilities are sometimes called the "treatment burden," and "capacity" refers to how well a patient can handle them.

Treatment Burden and Polypharmacy:

Treatment burden means all the extra tasks patients have to do to manage their health as advised by their doctors and other healthcare professionals. Polypharmacy is when a patient takes many different medicines at once, usually more than four or five for ongoing health issues. There's still a lot we don't know about how this affects patients' lives, especially when they have multiple health conditions that require more medicine. The increasing complexity of medication routines for people with CKD has an unclear impact on their ability to manage their treatment.

Research Goals:

This study aims to explore the treatment burden, polypharmacy, and medication routines of people with CKD who don’t need dialysis or a transplant. We want to find out what things make taking many medicines a burden and cause patients to not follow their treatment plans.

Methods:

The study will interview 25 to 30 people with CKD to understand their experiences, the difficulties they face in managing their health and medicines, and the solutions they have found.

Potential Impact:

The findings could help healthcare providers better understand the challenges of managing multiple medications for people with CKD. This could lead the NHS to change how they manage CKD patients,considering the treatment burden and medication adherence. It could also help CKD patients communicate their challenges and coping strategies more effectively.

Participants in this study will receive a £15 Amazon voucher upon completion.


Has this study received ethical approval?

NHS Ethics approval given
REC number: 320214

Who is funding the study?

Self-funded.