Project description:BackgroundThe landscape of available psychosocial services within pediatric nephrology care is poorly characterized. However, the effects of kidney disease on emotional health and health-related quality of life are well documented, as is the impact of social determinants of health on kidney disease outcomes. The objectives of this study were to assess pediatric nephrologists' perceptions of available psychosocial services and to elucidate inequities in access to psychosocial care.MethodsA web-based survey was distributed to members of the Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium (PNRC). Quantitative analyses were performed.ResultsWe received responses from 49 of the 90 PNRC centers. With regards to dedicated services, social work was most commonly available (45.5-100%), followed by pediatric psychology (0-57.1%) and neuropsychology (0-14.3%), with no centers having embedded psychiatry. Availability of psychosocial providers was positively associated with nephrology division size, such that as center size increased, access to various psychosocial providers increased. Notably, the majority of respondents indicated that perceived need for psychosocial support exceeds that which is currently available, even at centers with higher levels of current support.ConclusionsWithin the US, there is wide variability in the availability of psychosocial services within pediatric nephrology centers despite a well-documented necessity for the provision of holistic care. Much work remains to better understand the variation in funding for psychosocial services and in utilization of psychosocial professionals in the pediatric nephrology clinic, and to inform key best practices for addressing the psychosocial needs of patients with kidney disease.
Project description:ObjectiveTo assess practice pattern similarities and differences amongst pediatric rheumatologists and nephrologists in the management of pediatric Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA).MethodsA voluntary survey was distributed to the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium Group (MWPNC) and an international pediatric rheumatology email listserv in 2016-2017. Data were collected on general practice characteristics and preferences for induction management under three clinical scenarios (A-C): newly diagnosed GPA with glomerulonephritis, GPA with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, and GPA with pulmonary hemorrhage. In addition, individual preferences for GPA maintenance medications, disease monitoring, and management of GPA with end-stage renal disease were ascertained.ResultsThere was a 68% response rate from the MWPNC membership and equal numbers of rheumatology respondents. Survey results revealed Rituximab plus Cyclophosphamide is a more common induction choice for rheumatologists than nephrologists in induction Scenarios A and B, whereas Cyclophosphamide is more commonly chosen by nephrologists in Scenario A. Plasmapheresis rates increased for Scenarios A, B, and C for both specialties, but were overall low. There was no clear consensus on the duration of maintenance therapy nor diagnostic work-up. Rheumatologists more frequently chose Rituximab for maintenance and induction compared to nephrologists. There was also a higher than expected proportion of Mycophenolate Mofetil use for both specialties.ConclusionThis survey has revealed important differences in the way that rheumatologists and nephrologists manage this disease. It highlights the need for well-designed clinical trials in pediatric GPA patients and reveals that both specialties must be represented during consensus-building and clinical trial design efforts.
Project description:BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Medical specialty and subspecialty fellowship programs administer subject-specific in-training examinations to provide feedback about level of medical knowledge to fellows preparing for subsequent board certification. This study evaluated the association between the American Society of Nephrology In-Training Examination and the American Board of Internal Medicine Nephrology Certification Examination in terms of scores and passing status. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS:The study included 1684 nephrology fellows who completed the American Society of Nephrology In-Training Examination in their second year of fellowship training between 2009 and 2014. Regression analysis examined the association between In-Training Examination and first-time Nephrology Certification Examination scores as well as passing status relative to other standardized assessments. RESULTS:This cohort included primarily men (62%) and international medical school graduates (62%), and fellows had an average age of 32 years old at the time of first completing the Nephrology Certification Examination. An overwhelming majority (89%) passed the Nephrology Certification on their first attempt. In-Training Examination scores showed the strongest association with first-time Nephrology Certification Examination scores, accounting for approximately 50% of the total explained variance in the model. Each SD increase in In-Training Examination scores was associated with a difference of 30 U (95% confidence interval, 27 to 33) in certification performance. In-Training Examination scores also were significantly associated with passing status on the Nephrology Certification Examination on the first attempt (odds ratio, 3.46 per SD difference in the In-Training Examination; 95% confidence interval, 2.68 to 4.54). An In-Training Examination threshold of 375, approximately 1 SD below the mean, yielded a positive predictive value of 0.92 and a negative predictive value of 0.50. CONCLUSIONS:American Society of Nephrology In-Training Examination performance is significantly associated with American Board of Internal Medicine Nephrology Certification Examination score and passing status.
Project description:Background and objectivesRenal disease disproportionately affects African-American patients. Trust has been implicated as an important factor in patient outcomes. Higher levels of trust and better interpersonal care have been reported when race of patient and physician are concordant. The purpose of this analysis was to examine trends in the racial background of U.S. medical school graduates, internal medicine residents, nephrology fellows, and patients with ESRD.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsData for medical school graduates were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges and data for internal medicine and nephrology trainees from GME Track. ESRD data were obtained from U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS) annual reports.ResultsA significant disparity continues to exist between the proportional race makeup of African-American nephrology fellows (3.8%) and ESRD patients (32%). The low numbers of African-American nephrology fellows, and consequently new nephrologists, in light of the increase in ESRD patients has important implications for patient-centered nephrology care.ConclusionsEfforts are needed to increase minority recruitment into nephrology training programs, to more closely balance the racial background of trainees and patients in hopes of fostering improved trust between ESRD caregivers and patients, increasing access to care, alleviating ESRD health care disparities, and improving patient care.
Project description:BackgroundCyclophosphamide (CYC) is an inactive alkylating agent that transforms the alkyl radicals into other molecules and is used in combination with systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of many childhood rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). In recent years, rituximab (RTX), a B-cell-targeting anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has emerged as a new alternative treatment modality over CYC for induction therapy of childhood-onset rheumatic diseases. Clinicians adopt different practices for using CYC particularly in relation to indications, posology, pre-treatment laboratory work-up, post-treatment follow-up, and screening pre- and post-treatment vaccination status. This study aimed to evaluate the principles and approaches of administering CYC therapy in pediatric rheumatology and pediatric nephrology practices and to compare the clinician preferences for CYC and RTX in induction therapy of childhood-onset rheumatic diseases.MethodsThis study includes a web-based questionnaire executed on 87 participants (56 pediatric rheumatologists (PRs) and 31 pediatric nephrologists (PNs)). Both pediatric subspecialties evaluated and compared the most common indications for CYC treatment, pre-treatment consent protocols, pre-and post-treatment laboratory tests, dosing strategies, and side effects.ResultsChildhood-onset SLE (95%) and AAV (69%) were the most common diseases for which CYC treatment is used. All clinicians, except 2 PNs prescribed CYC via intravenous route. 61% of the PRs and 71% of PNs reported using a monthly dose of 500 mg/m² CYC for 6 months in accordance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) protocol. All clinicians conducted pre-CYC treatment assessments of complete blood count and kidney function tests. Hepatitis B (82%), chickenpox (76%), and mumps-measles-rubella (72%) were the most frequently assessed vaccines. Adverse effects associated with CYC include cytopenia (86%), nausea (52%), liver toxicity (20%), hair loss (31%), hemorrhagic cystitis (37%), allergic reactions (16%), dyspnea (5%), and infertility (2%). 9 clinicians stated that they performed gonad-sparing interventions before CYC, which clarifies why CYC was more commonly preferred in the induction therapy of SLE and AAV over RTX by both PRs and PNs.ConclusionsClinicians still tend to choose CYC over RTX in induction therapy of SLE and AAV and mostly prefer the high-dose CYC treatment regimen suggested by the NIH.