Evaluating Laboratory Communications to NKF-WG Recommended Stakeholders during Implementation of the CKD-EPI 2021 Equation.

BACKGROUND: In 2022, the National Kidney Foundation's Laboratory Engagement Working Group (NKF-WG) released recommendations for clinical implementation of the race-free Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) 2021 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation.This study examined laboratory communications during CKD-EPI 2021 implementation including communication methods and delivery, content inclusion, and alignment with stakeholder inclusion as defined by the NKF-WG.

METHODS: An anonymous web-based survey was distributed to members of ADLM (AACC) and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) in November 2022 to solicit laboratory directors of CLIA-licensed clinical laboratories in the United States. Seventeen questions covering topics related to implementation of CKD-EPI 2021, stakeholder inclusion, methods and timing of communications delivery, and content inclusion were surveyed.

RESULTS: All participating laboratories (n = 28) reported including physicians/advanced practitioners in implementation communications, while only 10.7% reported inclusion of patients. When reporting on methods of communication, 81.5% (n = 27) of respondents reported using multiple methods of communication with providers and 88.8% issued provider communications prior to implementation. In contrast, when patient communications were delivered, 87.5% (n = 8) issued these communications exclusively after CKD-EPI 2021 implementation and the majority (6 of 8) reported using only one method of communication during delivery. When reporting on content inclusion, 64.3% (n = 28) of laboratories reported including concerns regarding previous race-based eGFR equations in communications with physicians/advanced practitioners, while only 16.7% (n = 18) of those who included this information did so with patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants reported limited engagement in CKD-EPI 2021 laboratory-to-patient implementation communications as well as limited inclusion of additional stakeholder groups, as defined in the NKF-WG recommendations. Laboratories utilized multiple communication methods and deliveries in physician/advanced practitioner communications; however, this strategy was not replicated when engaging with additional NKF-WG stakeholder groups.