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Integrating Care Coordination and Mental Health Research Into Dialysis Practice: Stakeholder Perspectives, Methods, and Outcomes

Rationale & Objective

Despite many studies suggesting beneficial innovations for patients, few make it into clinical practice. This study aims to enhance patient care by facilitating effective dissemination of patient-centered outcomes research to health care workers in outpatient dialysis facilities, aided by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute's (PCORI) dissemination and implementation framework.

Study Design

Dissemination and implementation project.

Setting & Population

Outpatient hemodialysis facilities in the United States.

Methods

We brought together panels of key stakeholders, which included researchers, patient subject matter experts, and dialysis personnel. Their role was to provide guidance on the content and methods for disseminating research findings. With a focus on 2 critical patient safety areas-care coordination or care transitions and mental or behavioral health-we developed virtual education modules. These modules were then made available to outpatient dialysis facilities by the national 5-Diamond Patient Safety Program.

Results

In 2022, the training was used by more than 2,500 dialysis facilities and approximately 40,000 dialysis staff in the care coordination module, and by more than 300 dialysis facilities and 5,000 staff for the mental health module. Cumulatively, the modules affected more than 179,000 patients. Evidence of efficacy was the significant increase in trainee knowledge of research findings and implementation considerations (P ≤ 0.05).

Limitations

Potential selection bias because dialysis facilities that did not participate in the program may differ significantly from those that did, which may affect generalizability. In addition, variable timing in release of the different modules may have influenced uptake by facilities.

Conclusions

By using key stakeholder guidance and accessible virtual education modules, the implementation framework shows promise in effectively disseminating research findings within outpatient dialysis settings. This method potentially carries implications for broader health care settings as well.

Plain-Language Summary

Our study addresses a common health care challenge-many promising ideas for improving patient care never actually reach the patients. We aimed to bridge the dissemination gap by sharing research with health care workers in outpatient dialysis, promoting evidence-based practice. We collaborated with experts, patients, and dialysis personnel to develop easy-to-understand educational materials focused on 2 critical topics: care coordination and mental health. In 2022, our training benefited more than 2,500 facilities and 40,000 staff for care coordination, and 300 facilities with 5,000 staff for mental health, positively affecting more than 179,000 patients. We found that the training significantly increased knowledge among staff. Our approach shows promise for sharing research effectively in dialysis centers and potentially in other health care settings.