Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36-Item Short Form Survey (KDQOL-36) Normative Values for the United States Dialysis Population and New Single Summary Score.

Background: The Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36-item short form survey (KDQOL-36) is a widely used, patient-reported outcome measure for patients on dialysis. Efforts to aid interpretation are needed.

Methods: We used a sample of 58,851 dialysis patients participating in the Medical Education Institute (MEI) KDQOL Complete program, and 443,947 patients from the US Renal Data System (USRDS) to develop the KDQOL-36 Summary Score (KSS) for the kidney-targeted KDQOL-36 scales (Burdens of Kidney Disease [BKD], Symptoms and Problems of Kidney Disease [SPKD], and Effects of Kidney Disease [EKD]).

Insights into nephrologist training, clinical practice, and dialysis choice.

There is variable emphasis on dialysis-specific training among US nephrology fellowship programs. Our study objective was to determine the association between nephrology training experience and subsequent clinical practice. We conducted a national survey of clinical nephrologists using a fax-back survey distributed between March 8, 2010 and April 30, 2010 (N = 629).

Successful daily home hemodialysis patient-care partner dyads: benefits outweigh burdens.

Understanding and communicating the benefits vs. burdens of short daily home hemodialysis (SDHD) is presumed to be important to the success of recruiting patients and care partners and preventing dropout. We conducted an in-depth qualitative study of 13 patient and care partner couples (dyads) who completed at least 6 months of SDHD after at least 6 months of in-center hemodialysis to inform strategies for screening, training, and support to improve SDHD retention.

Self-efficacy and self-management behaviors in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Although past research has examined self-management among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), little is known about self-management in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this cross-sectional survey (no intervention), 174 patients with CKD (serum creatinine > or =1.7 mg/dL) completed self-reported measures of self-efficacy, physical and mental functioning, and self-management.

In-center hemodialysis patients' use of the internet in the United States: a national survey.

Background: Education is critical to help patients with chronic kidney disease self-manage their illness by thoroughly understanding their treatment options, medications, diet and fluids, and symptoms.

Methods: This study assesses in-center hemodialysis patients' use of the Internet in general and for health information seeking, both independently and by proxy-asking a family member or friend. Patients (n = 1,804) were recruited from 37 randomly selected dialysis clinics in 18 End-Stage Renal Disease Networks.

Activating chronic kidney disease patients and family members through the Internet to promote integration of care.

Purpose: To describe the potential role of the Internet as a vehicle for improving integration of care through activating chronic kidney disease patients and their family members. Also, to describe how that potential is being developed through a website sponsored by the Medicare program in the United States.

Background: The Internet is expanding at a rapid rate, and health-related websites are one of its most popular features.

The peritoneal dialysis experience: insights from long-term patients.

This exploratory-descriptive study identifies dimensions of self-management demonstrated by patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who have been successfully treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) for more than 4 years (range = 4.1 to 13.1 years, mean = 7.

Self-management, knowledge, and functioning and well-being of patients on hemodialysis.

Past research suggests that patients' self-management behavior and knowledge about their condition/treatment may impact functioning and well-being. Specific self-management activities used by patients on hemodialysis have included cooperative/participatory and protective/proactive strategies. In this cross-sectional study, measures of self-management and knowledge were administered to 372 patients on hemodialysis-from 17 dialysis facilities.

Medical outcomes study short form-36: a consistent and powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients.

Background: One of the guidelines released by the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) recommends that patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 undergo regular assessment of functioning and well-being (FWB) to establish baselines, monitor changes in FWB over time, and assess the effect of interventions on FWB. Although this recommendation stresses the importance of assessing and monitoring physical and mental health functioning, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36) might also be useful for predicting crucial longer-term patient outcomes.

Hemodialysis patients' symptom experiences: effects on physical and mental functioning.

Dialysis patients experience numerous symptoms, some serious in terms of medical outcomes and all serious in terms of potential reductions in functioning and well-being. This cross-sectional study used self-reports of hemodialysis patients to catalogue symptoms; hypothesizing that frequently experienced symptoms, regardless of acuity, negatively affect functioning and well-being. Data were collected from 307 randomly selected hemodialysis patients from 14 dialysis facilities.

Renal rehabilitation and improved patient outcomes in Texas dialysis facilities.

Background: Because a cure is not a reasonable goal for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), optimal physical and mental health functioning are primary objectives of care and major determinants of health-related quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. This cross-sectional study used facility-level survey data to test the hypothesis that dialysis unit rehabilitation activities are associated with higher patient functional status.

Methods: Data were collected from 169 dialysis facilities in the ESRD Network of Texas (Network 14), including facility characteristics, facility-level patient demographic and clinical characteristics, and facility rehabilitation activities measured by the Life Options Unit Self-Assessment Tool (USAT).