CAN TELEHEALTH IMPROVE ACCESS TO DIETARY MANAGEMENT IN KIDNEY FAILURE? INSIGHTS FROM FOCUS GROUPS WITH CONSUMERS
JOANNE BEER1, KELLY LAMBERT2, WAI LIM1, CATHERINE KEANE NEIL BOUDVILLE3 1Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia2University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia3University of Western Australia, Mosman Park, Western Australia, Australia
Abstract
Background:
Timely, effective and individualised dietary intervention is recognised as an essential component in the management of those receiving dialysis. However, delivery of dietary advice in dialysis patients comes with the added challenge of limited access to renal dietitians, logistical difficulties, as well as complex medical issues and multiple medical appointments.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to explore the consumer perspective and involve consumers in the design of a clinical trial to improve delivery of dietary advice utilising telehealth technology.
Methods:
Twenty-two participants (17 patients receiving dialysis, 5 carers), 47% male, mean age 71 (± standard deviation 13 years), participated in one of three focus groups (5 – 8 participants per group) in a Western Australian metro health service. Each session was recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis drawing on the principles of grounded theory.
Results:
Preliminary analysis identified four themes: Communication (need consistency among clinicians, with a preference for individualised advice using positively framed messages); Information (plain language information was preferred, with practical advice on making dietary changes); Timing (consumers often felt overwhelmed with the volume of medical appointments, want regular reminders and timely advice especially regarding abnormal pathology results, experienced difficulty attending face to face appointments in addition to dialysis treatments); and Modality (consumers preferred a combination of delivery methods for dietetic advice including text/SMS/App messages as an adjunct to face to face care).
Conclusions:
Consumers believe that telehealth options offer an acceptable adjunct to deliver nutrition care and dietary advice in a timely manner and provided advice that has informed the design of a clinical trial using telehealth to improve management of serum phosphate.
Biography
Jo Beer is an advanced accredited practicing dietitian specialising in renal disease at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital WA. She is passionate about optimising quality of life and nutritional status in those experiencing end stage kidney failure and is currently undertaking a PhD in which she is researching how to improve delivery of dietary advice by utilising telehealth technology. Part of that is an RCT called The Telekinesis Study
The definition of telekinesis is” an alleged psychic ability allowing a person to influence a physical system without physical interaction.” This summarises her vision to use telehealth and education to change behaviour and reduce the burden of comorbidities for patients on dialysis.