Improving how patients choose their hemodialysis access
Official title: Improving the patient experience of hemodialysis vascular access decision making
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11400532 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly project to help people with kidney failure better understand and decide between AV fistula, graft, or catheter for hemodialysis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $423,035 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129810-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400532 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with end-stage kidney disease preparing for hemodialysis and facing vascular access decisions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not currently considering a vascular access option or without access to a clinician using the decision guide may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will create an interactive, evidence-based guide that explains likely short- and long-term outcomes of different access options. It will use large, linked data from VQIVAR, USRDS, and Medicare to build models that predict what may happen after each choice. Researchers will combine traditional stats with machine learning to tailor information to individual patients during clinic visits. The goal is to support clear conversations between clinicians and patients to improve decision quality and satisfaction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients will have clearer information to choose the best vascular access for their situation, potentially reducing unnecessary procedures and improving overall satisfaction with care.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work shows evidence that patient-facing decision aids can improve knowledge and satisfaction in similar medical decisions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woo, Karen — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Woo, Karen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Making hemodialysis blood-access decisions easier
This project will build an easy-to-use, evidence-based guide to help people on or approaching hemodialysis and their doctors choose the best type of vascular access for their situation.
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Improving decision-making for vascular access in hemodialysis patients
This study is working to make it easier for people with end-stage kidney disease who need hemodialysis to choose the best type of access for their treatment by creating a helpful guide that shows the possible outcomes of different options.
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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.