Identifying and Eliminating the Barriers to Patient Education for Patients in the Early Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often do not have the knowledge they need to adequately manage their disease and prevent progression. Educating patients with the early stages of CKD is warranted and may assist in delaying progression of disease, improving outcomes, and reducing health expenditures. However, evidence is currently lacking regarding the best methods and approach to educating patients in the early stages of CKD. Multiple patient, provider, and system barriers can interfere with the delivery of patient education in the early stages of CKD. A brief approach, described in this article, is a cost-effective education method that can be easily implemented into a busy clinic setting.