Associate Professor Kawarazaki's research group has published the results of a survey on the actual situation of "shared decision-making" for the selection of renal replacement therapy.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Teikyo University Hospital, Mizonokuchi Fourth Internal Medicine Department Associate Professor Hiroo Kawarazaki, in collaboration with Fukushima Medical University Graduate School Graduate School of Medicine Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Specially Appointed Professor Yoshiaki Kurita, and colleagues, conducted a survey of 475 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients nationwide in Japan to determine the actual situation regarding "shared decision-making" (SDM) in renal replacement therapy (RRT) selection. The survey revealed the actual situation regarding the recognition of "Shared Decision-Making (SDM)" in the selection of renal replacement therapy (RRT), the types of professionals who should be involved, and the timing of implementation of SDM.

The survey results showed that while approximately 80% of patients recalled that "SDM was performed," only a very small number of patients were familiar with the concept of SDM before choosing renal replacement therapy. In discussions about RRT selection, emphasis was placed on the impact on daily life, economic burden, and impact on family, rather than information about the disease or treatment, and information about lifestyle was sought. In addition, it was revealed that multiple visits to the RRT selection outpatient clinic (involvement of nurses, outpatient visits with time-consuming explanations) contributed to the patients who felt that SDM was performed. Furthermore, the involvement of not only nephrologists but also family doctors and medical social workers was desired, indicating the need for support from a multidisciplinary team.
The results of this research suggest the importance of establishing a system that supports patient-centered choices, and are expected to provide useful insights into medical policy.

The results of this research were published in the scientific journal Kidney International Reports on Monday, May 19, 2025.

Read the press release here
Read the published paper here (in English)
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