Research Awards Recipients

Co-Applicant(s):  Amity Quinn, Brenda Hemmelgarn, Kim Manalili, Meghan J. Elliott

Lay Abstract

Background: Many people living with chronic kidney disease and other illnesses do not have access to coordinated care. They often need to see many types of health care providers such as pharmacists, nurses, specialists, and family doctors. A person-centered integrated care approach aims to provide comprehensive and coordinated care. Our team has partnered with several groups who have identified this as a priority area. These groups include patients, their caregivers, health care professionals, decision makers, and researchers. Purpose: Our project aims to create a person-centered integrated care model that would align services and resources to provide support and direction for health care professionals and patients to make decisions together about their care. Methods: Our research project will have two phases of work. First, we will learn about what person-centered integrated care strategies exist and what the impact of those strategies are on kidney care. Strategies may include supporting patients’ self-management goals and implementing clinical care pathways to help integrate care across primary and specialty care. We will survey patients, caregivers, health care professionals, and organizational leaders in Canada. Second, we will determine the top 10 person-centered integrated care strategies through a prioritization activity called a Nominal Group Technique. To do this, we will list the strategies identified in phase 1 and ask participants to rank the priority of the strategies through two surveys and a group discussion. We will present the final strategies to a committee made up of patients, caregivers, health care professionals, and decision makers to create a person-centered integrated care model for chronic kidney disease and related illness. Outcomes: Developing a person-centered integrated care model will provide patients with holistic care where health care professionals work together to optimize patient health and quality of life. The results of the research will help direct the next steps including implementing and evaluating the person-centered integrated care model. Patient Engagement: Our research team includes two patient partners with lived experience who have been involved with our research on person-centered integrated care. They will actively take part in planning, execution, and dissemination of our work. Relevance: Our work presents the opportunity for the kidney community to share their experience with care. By including patients, caregivers, and health care providers across Canada, we aim to create a person-centered integrated model of kidney care that would better serve the community by improving access to services, shared decision making, and quality of life.