TP-CKD Programme: Quality improvement work highlighted in the British Journal of Renal Medicine

An article highlighting the work of the TP-CKD quality improvement programme was published in the British Journal of Renal Medicine last month.  The article, entitled “Is it possible to embed patient reported outcome measures to make a difference to care and the perception of care?” focussed on the TP-CKD programme that ran between 2015 and 2017, and worked in partnership with 14 renal units across England to establish the feasibility of embedding patient reported outcome measures into renal clinical care.

Key points

  • The Transforming Participation in Chronic Kidney Disease (TP-CKD) programme implemented the Patient Activation Measure and patient-reported outcome measures in 14 renal units in England. NHS England’s Change Model was used to frame the programme.
  • Although the routine implementation and collection of patient-reported measures is challenging, the programme has demonstrated that, with support and a structured approach, this is feasible in patients with moderate-to-severe CKD and those on renal replacement therapy.
  • There was some correlation between success in achieving routine collection of patient-reported measures and unit adoption of pre-defined characteristics likely to facilitate successful engagement with the programme.
  • Common characteristics displayed by renal units that facilitated successful collection of patient-reported measures included commitment of the unit, senior leadership, patient involvement and team engagement, whereas factors such as competing priorities, a depleted work force or lack of staff time hindered successful implementation of these measures.
  • The collection of patient-reported measures alone will not improve patient outcomes unless healthcare professionals, in partnership with patients, use these data to guide care. It is important that clinical staff and patients gain an understanding of the benefits of collecting these data.

Click here to view the article