Brockport

Older adults aged 75 years and older with advanced chronic kidney disease are being studied to find out which educational program better supports their decisions about kidney treatment. The study focuses on improving the decision-making process for kidney therapy, exploring if one program helps reduce hospital and emergency room visits within six months and enhances end-of-life care. This research aims to address unmet information needs and support patients in sharing their treatment preferences with their kidney doctors, potentially introducing new ways to include palliative care alongside standard nephrology care. Participants are divided into two groups. One group (Program A) receives information from the National Kidney Foundation and meets with a kidney therapy educator. The other group (Program B) receives a video and paper decision aid plus coaching from a decision support specialist focused on helping with kidney therapy choices. These behavioral programs aim to guide patients through their kidney treatment decisions. During the 12 weeks of the study, researchers assess changes in how patients make kidney therapy decisions using the Decisional Conflict Scale at the start, between 4 to 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks. The study also tracks emergency room visits and hospital stays for six months and evaluates end-of-life care quality. Participants complete surveys and provide information about their treatment experiences while researchers monitor their decision-making progress and health outcomes throughout the study period.