Acceptability and Feasibility of Interventions for Integrated Care of Chronic Kidney Disease With Other Long-term Health Conditions in Malawi: a Qualitative Study

Launched by LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE · Jan 29, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how to improve care for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other long-term health conditions in Malawi. CKD is a growing problem, especially in low-income countries, where access to treatment is limited. The goal of the study is to understand patients' and caregivers' experiences and to explore different ways to combine care for CKD with other health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and HIV. By doing this, researchers hope to find better and more affordable ways to help patients manage their health before CKD becomes severe.

To participate in the study, individuals must be at least 18 years old and either have CKD or be at risk of it while also having another long-term condition. Patients need to have been receiving outpatient care for at least six months. Caregivers and healthcare workers who are involved in the care of these patients are also eligible to participate. Participants can expect to share their experiences through interviews, which will help researchers understand how to make healthcare more effective and accessible for those affected by CKD and other related conditions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• * Eligibility criteria for each of the participant groups described above are as follows:
• Patients:
• • 1. Adults aged ≥ 18 years
• 2. Diagnosed with CKD, or at risk of CKD, AND at least one other long-term health condition out of:
• • Hypertension
• • Diabetes mellitus
• • HIV infection
• • Heart failure
• • Stroke (See Table 1 for diagnostic inclusion criteria for each of the above conditions)
• • 3. Receiving outpatient care at one of the selected study sites, for at least 6 months
• Caregivers:
• • 1. Adults aged ≥ 18 years
• • 2. Identified by a patient meeting the above inclusion criteria to be their primary caregiver
• Healthcare workers:
• • Adults aged ≥ 18 years
• • Currently employed as a healthcare worker at either QECH, Chiradzulu District Hospital, Ndunde Health Centre or Namadzi Health Centre.
• * Working in an outpatient clinic environments where care is delivered for patients with any of the above conditions, which may include (but is not limited to) the following:
• • CKD clinic (QECH)
• • Hypertension clinic (QECH)
• • Diabetes clinic (QECH)
• • HIV clinic (all study locations, including the Lighthouse clinic at QECH)
• • Cardiology /chest clinic (QECH)
• • General non-communicable disease (Chiradzulu District Hospital and its referring primary health centres)
• • Policy makers
• • Adults aged ≥ 18 years
• • Identified through stakeholder mapping and/or snowball sampling to have a leading role relevant to planning, managing and implementing services and/or policies for NCDs and/or other LTCs.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • • Under 18 years of age
• • Acute physical or mental illness, which requires urgent treatment and might impact on ability to participate in and complete interview
• • Current hospital inpatient
• • Unable to participate in interview due to severe communication difficulties (e.g. aphasia), confusion or behavioural disturbance
• • Declines consent