Mrs Joanne Beer1, Associate Professor Kelly Lambert2, Dr Wai Lim3, Professor Neil Boudville3,4
1Nutrition and Dietetics, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia, 2Faculty of Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, 3Department of Renal Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia, 4Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
Biography:
Jo Beer is an advanced renal dietitian at SCGH and a PhD candidate at UWA. Her research explores the potential of telehealth to improve dietary management for dialysis patients. She recently led the Telekinesis Study, a large-scale Australian RCT across 23 sites, evaluating the effectiveness of this approach. Currently, Jo is refining the concept by integrating AI to enhance patient outcomes.
Aim:
To determine the acceptability of integrating digital health in delivering phosphate specific dietary advice to patients on dialysis.
Background:
Hyperphosphataemia is a frequent complication of kidney failure and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and poor health outcomes. Dietary management is a critical strategy in its treatment, however, managing dietary needs in these patients is complicated by the complexity of the diet and inconsistent access to renal dietitians. Innovative solutions are required to help patients manage their diets effectively.
Methods:
This was a multi-centre co-designed randomised controlled trial that recruited individuals aged 18 years or over on dialysis with a serum phosphate level of ≥1.6 mmol/L. Participants were randomised to receive the TeleKinesis App for three months in addition to standard care or standard care alone. Acceptability was measured using the validated mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ).
Results:
Of 190 participants recruited across 23 Australian dialysis sites, 99 (52%) were randomised to the intervention group. Recruitment completed in December 2024. Median age 57.6 years, 60% male, 54% on dialysis for over 24 months, 31% due to diabetic nephropathy. Among the intervention group 85% completed the MAUQ, with a score of 88/105 (median 91), indicating strong acceptability. Of the four domains, 80.6% participants confirmed ease of use, 77.9% agreed interface and satisfaction, 80.0% confirmed usefulness and 80.1% would recommend the App.
Conclusions:
Given the critical role of dietary adherence in improving quality of life and clinical outcomes for this population, this intervention holds significant potential as a scalable and accessible approach to improving patient care. The results of the primary outcome will inform if this intervention is effective in reducing serum phosphate.
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