An Exercise Facilitator to Break Down the Barriers to Physical Activity of End-stage Kidney Disease Patients. A Pragmatic Implementation Trial in a Nephrology Unit
An Exercise Facilitator to Break Down the Barriers to Physical Activity of End-stage Kidney Disease Patients. A Pragmatic Implementation Trial in a Nephrology Unit
Low physical activity levels and progressive poor functional capacity affect quality of life and clinical outcomes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients. Interventions to prevent the functional decline associated with a sedentary lifestyle or to relief from deconditioning are crucial, considering the significant beneficial effects of exercise in all CKD patients, especially in End-stage Kidney Disease patients (ESKD). Unfortunately, physical and psychological barriers to exercise are present and physical activity management is not routinely addressed in the patient's care.
For the first time the project aims to test the impact of the regular presence of an exercise specialist in the Nephrology Unit.
This facilitator, evaluating capacity, motivation and preferences of each patient, will design tailored solutions and assess the related outcomes. Several design of training programs will be proposed to dialysis patients, that can choose the exercise option that best fits their needing.
The study will determine the feasibility of the project, the patients' adherence and the effectiveness of the programs proposed to improve the patients' lifestyle.
The assumption underlying the project is that a wider participation to physical activity programs (PAPs) of ESKD patients may be facilitated by the presence in the Renal Unit of an exercise specialist able to design tailored programs and that this intervention may lead to measurable benefits on physical fitness, quality of life and general health.
The possible different solutions offered by an expert of exercise in chronic diseases might reduce most of the barriers to exercise responsible of the sedentary behavior of the ESKD patients. Aim of the project is to test the impact of the regular presence of this facilitator in a Nephrology Unit in terms of applicability and feasibility as well to identify the preferred and the most effective pathways for the patients.
The identification of a novel cost-effective intervention may represent an important step to manage the change of lifestyle of ESKD patients, to slow down their physical and QoL decline and to reduce hospitalizations and negative outcomes affecting this population.
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