Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two main causes for developing chronic kidney disease. Individuals at highest risk for developing CKD have a family history of kidney disease, are older or belong to a population group that has a high rate of diabetes or high blood pressure.

CKD is generally progressive, but with early detection and treatment, along with self-management support, your patients have the opportunity to slow or prevent further damage.

How Do You Support Patient Self-Management?

• Use evidence-based guidelines for the identification and treatment of chronic kidney disease. Ascreening and treatment algorithm is a useful decision support tool.
• Consider co-management with a kidney specialist at Stage 3 of CKD.
• A nephrologist can focus on the specific complications of CKD, freeing the primary care physician to treat other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia.
• Use current, appropriate patient education materials and management tools.
• Assess your patient’s health literacy levels – the ability to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

According to research from the U.S. Department of Education, only 12% of English-speaking adults have proficient health literacy.

• Make patient education materials available that are culturally appropriate and avoid overuse of medical jargon.
• Incorporate motivational interviewing techniques and shared-decision making into the process of developing a care plan with your patient rather than for your patient.