← Back to Search

PROMs Assessment for Chronic Kidney Disease (EMPATHY Trial)

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Jeffrey Johnson, PhD
Research Sponsored by University of Alberta
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Undergoing hemodialysis within an eligible in-centre dialysis unit in Alberta or Ontario
18 years or older at the start of the study
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up one year prior and one year after the study intervention
Awards & highlights

EMPATHY Trial Summary

This trial will help us understand whether measuring PROMs can improve patient-clinician communication and, ultimately, patient care.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults over 18 in Alberta or Ontario who are undergoing regular hemodialysis. Participants must be able to complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Those with cognitive impairments, on acute dialysis, or temporarily dialyzing aren't eligible.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The EMPATHY trial tests if using PROMs—surveys about patients' health directly from them—improves communication between patients and clinicians. It compares the effects of disease-specific, generic, both types of PROMs, and usual care without PROMs in managing kidney failure symptoms.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
Since this study involves completing questionnaires rather than medication or invasive procedures, there are no direct physical side effects expected from participating in the trial.

EMPATHY Trial Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
I am currently receiving hemodialysis in Alberta or Ontario.
Select...
I am 18 years old or older.

EMPATHY Trial Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~one year prior and one year after the study intervention
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and one year prior and one year after the study intervention for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Change in Communication Assessment Tool (CAT) scores over 12 months
Secondary outcome measures
Change in Disease-specific PROM (ESAS or IPOS) scores over 12 months
Change in EQ-5D-5L scores over 12 months
Change in GAD-2 scores over 12 months
+5 more

EMPATHY Trial Design

4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: The generic PROM groupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
HD units randomized to this PROMs assessment group will administer a generic PROM every 2 months to all patients able to complete the instrument independently or with assistance for a period of 12 months. Patients will receive a copy of their PROM results in report form and patients will be prompted to follow-up with their care providers if they provide a positive response to any of the symptoms assessed by the PROM. The generic PROM report will also be added to the patient's medical chart for review by clinicians. The report will display each patient's most recent results in comparison with their previous results, and in comparison with the general dialysis population. The PROM report will be accompanied by treatment aids for all symptoms. The proposed generic PROM is the EQ-5D-5L.
Group II: The disease-specific PROM groupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Hemodialysis (HD) units randomized to this PROMs assessment group will administer a disease-specific PROM every 2 months to all patients able to complete the instrument independently or with assistance for a period of 12 months. Patients will receive a copy of their PROM results in report form and patients will be prompted to follow-up with their care providers if they provide a positive response to any of the symptoms assessed by the PROM. The disease-specific PROM report will also be added to the patient's medical chart for review by clinicians. The report will display each patient's most recent results in comparison with their previous results, and in comparison with the general dialysis population. The PROM report will be accompanied by treatment aids for all symptoms. The proposed disease-specific PROM is the ESAS-r:Renal or the IPOS-Renal.
Group III: Disease-specific and generic PROMs groupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
HD units randomized to this PROMs assessment group will administer a disease-specific and generic PROM every 2 months to all patients able to complete the instrument for a period of 12 months. Patients will receive a copy of both their PROMs results in report form and patients will be prompted to follow-up with their care providers if they provide a positive response to any of the symptoms assessed by the two PROMs. The disease-specific and generic PROMs reports will also be added to the patient's medical chart for review by clinicians. The report will display each patient's most recent results in comparison with their previous results, and in comparison with the general dialysis population. The PROMs reports will be accompanied by treatment aids for all symptoms.
Group IV: The control or 'usual care' groupActive Control1 Intervention
HD units randomized to this group will follow usual care and patients will not have any PROMs assessment; however, all the treatment aids will be made available for clinicians in this study group during the 12 months trial period.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Alberta Health servicesOTHER
158 Previous Clinical Trials
645,689 Total Patients Enrolled
University of AlbertaLead Sponsor
888 Previous Clinical Trials
380,981 Total Patients Enrolled
Jeffrey Johnson, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Alberta

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Are there any slots open for this research protocol?

"According to the information shared on clinicaltrials.gov, this particular trial has stopped recruiting participants for now; it was first made available on September 17th of 2018 and received its last update on August 15th 2022. However, there are 497 other active studies in need of volunteers currently."

Answered by AI

Who else is applying?

What site did they apply to?
Ontario Renal Network
What portion of applicants met pre-screening criteria?
Met criteria
Recent research and studies
~376 spots leftby Dec 2024