Helping older patients with kidney disease make better medical decisions
Official title: Improving Medical Decision Making for Older Patients with End Stage Renal Disease
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-10890188 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping older patients with kidney disease share their treatment choices, like CPR and dialysis, in a clear and friendly way using a helpful video tool, so they can feel more confident about their medical decisions and communicate better with their doctors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,871,117 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG066892-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890188 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults diagnosed with chronic kidney disease who are approaching end-stage renal disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing chronic kidney disease or are not in the advanced stages of the disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving how older patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) communicate their medical preferences regarding treatments like CPR and dialysis. It utilizes a video decision aid that presents treatment options in a clear and engaging manner, allowing patients to record and share their preferences with healthcare providers. The goal is to enhance advance care planning by making complex medical decisions more understandable and personalized for patients. The tool is available in both English and Spanish to accommodate diverse patient populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could empower older patients with kidney disease to make informed decisions that align with their values and improve their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown that using multimedia tools for decision-making can significantly improve patient understanding and satisfaction, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paasche-Orlow, Michael — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Paasche-Orlow, Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how octopuses integrate sensory information and make decisions
This study is exploring how octopuses use their arms to grip things by looking closely at their nervous system and movements, which could help us understand their amazing abilities better.
-
NoviGuide for Newborn Care in Pakistan
A small NIH grant to test a pocket-sized decision support tool for nurses and doctors to improve newborn care in Pakistan.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Shared decision-making to prevent cancer in South Africa
A multi-level, school-based program in South Africa helps families, teachers, and health workers make informed choices to prevent cervical and related cancers, especially where HIV is common.
-
Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
-
Alcohol use and suicidal thoughts: how decision-making affects risk
This project looks at how acute alcohol use and people’s decision-making patterns relate to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.