Improving communication for dialysis decisions in older patients with kidney disease
Official title: Pilot Testing of a Communication Intervention to Promote Shared Dialysis Decision Making in Older Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (DIAL-SDM Trial)
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-10609444 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping older adults with chronic kidney disease make better choices about dialysis by training doctors to communicate more effectively and coaching patients and their caregivers to express what matters most to them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $189,821 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DK121939-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10609444 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above with chronic kidney disease and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 20 ml/min or less.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 65 or do not have chronic kidney disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the decision-making process for older patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are considering dialysis. It involves training nephrologists to better engage with their patients through remote online sessions, while also providing coaching to patients and their caregivers to help them articulate their values and preferences. The goal is to ensure that patients are well-informed and actively involved in their treatment choices, ultimately aligning medical decisions with their personal goals. The study will involve a pilot trial with nephrologists and patients aged 65 and older.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved patient satisfaction and better alignment of dialysis treatment with patients' quality of life preferences.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that enhancing communication in medical decision-making can lead to better patient outcomes, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saeed, Fahad — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Saeed, Fahad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Kids CoLab: Helping kids with kidney disease take an active role in decisions about their care
A project to help children with kidney disease learn to participate in decisions about their own care as they move from pediatric to adult health services.
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Helping young people with chronic kidney disease make health decisions with their caregivers
This project creates tools and support to help children and young adults with chronic kidney disease learn decision-making and self-care skills together with their caregivers as they move to adult care.
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Helping kids with chronic kidney disease make better health decisions
This study is all about helping kids and teens with chronic kidney disease learn how to make better choices about their health as they move from pediatric to adult care, so they can feel more confident and in control of their treatment.
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Personalized CKD-MBD care using systems biology and AI
A patient-facing program aims to tailor mineral-balance therapy for people with chronic kidney disease by using a computer model and smart decision rules to predict who will respond best to treatments.
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Mitigating DKA in people with type 1 diabetes and kidney disease using SGLT1/2 inhibitors
This project tests a new way to prevent dangerous diabetic ketoacidosis in people with type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease who are using SGLT inhibitors, by tracking ketones in real time and combining glucose-keton data for safer therapy.
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Chronic Kidney Disease in Children: following young people as they grow up with CKD
A long-term study in kids with chronic kidney disease tracks kidney function and heart health as they transition into adulthood.
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.