Patient-Centered Outcomes With a Multidisciplinary CKD Care Team Approach: An Observational Study.

Rationale & Objective: Multidisciplinary chronic kidney disease (CKD) care has been associated with improved clinical outcomes in comparison to general nephrology care. However, there is little research examining the impact of multidisciplinary care on patient-centered outcomes. We examined if a multidisciplinary approach to CKD care was associated with 4 patient-centered outcomes.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study design using previously established surveys to assess patient-centered outcomes in participants with nondialysis CKD.

Setting & Participants: Adults with CKD stages 1-5 who had not undergone transplant or were not on dialysis.

Exposures: General nephrology care or multidisciplinary care. Patients receiving multidisciplinary care were seen by a pharmacist, social worker, dietitian, and nephrologist, whereas patients receiving general nephrology care only saw a nephrologist.

Outcomes: Four patient-centered outcomes: CKD-specific knowledge, disease-related stress, perception of overall health, and perception of health status compared to 1 year ago.

Analytical Approach: Differences were examined using a Welch 2-sample test and linear regression model.

Results: Mean age of participants was 60 years with standard deviation of 17 years. 182 (77%) patients were White, and 230 (96%) had formal education greater than or equal to high school. 121 (49%) were women, and 215 (88%) had CKD stage 3-5. 77 (31%) received multidisciplinary care. We did not identify any significant differences in patient knowledge, stress, or perception of health between multidisciplinary and general nephrology care. However, notably, patients in multidisciplinary care were older and had more advanced CKD than those in general nephrology care.

Limitations: Cross-sectional study designs only identify associations. Study was conducted at clinics located within 30 miles of each other, limiting generalizability.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that a team-based approach to care can better support sicker, more vulnerable patients so that they can achieve similar patient-centered outcomes compared to patients who are younger and with less advanced CKD.