Routine screening of cognitive function in patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) is recommended, yet rarely it happens. This study sought to identify barriers to cognitive function screening for patients with ESKD receiving in-center hemodialysis. To ascertain their perceptions of cognitive function screening, 100 patients aged 50 years and older (48% female49% Black/African-American) from seven hemodialysis centers participated in structured interviews after completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Geriatric Depression Scale. Participants rated the screening experience favorably, indicating cognitive function screening is acceptable to patients receiving hemodialysis. The level of cognitive impairment was the only factor significantly associated with screening evaluation scores, with participants with scores indicating mild or moderate impairment evaluating screening less favorably than those with normal cognitive function scores. Next steps include identifying systems level barriers and establishing appropriate follow up for patients with abnormal screening results.

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our larger study team, the dedicated clinicians working in dialysis clinics, and of course, the patients, who were so generous with their time and perceptions.

Continuing Education Instructions and Disclosure Information:

Contact hours available until 6/30/2024.

Requirements for Successful Completion:
Complete the learning activity in its entirety and complete the online nursing continuing professional development evaluation. You will be able to print your NCPD certificate after you complete the evaluation.

Disclosure of relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies (planners, faculty, reviewers, authors):

Editorial Board Disclosures:
Paula Dutka, MSN, RN, CNN, discloses that she is a consultant for Rockwell Medical.

All other members of the Editorial Board had no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this nursing continuing professional development education activity.

Author(s) Disclosures:
The author(s) reported no actual or potential conflict of interest.

Commercial Support:
No commercial support declared.

This work was supported in part by Award No. 23-3 from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund, administered by the Virginia Center on Aging, College of Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University.

This article was reviewed and formatted for contact hour credit by Beth Ulrich, EdD, RN, FACHE, FAONL, FAAN, Nephrology Nursing Journal Editor-in-Chief, and Sally Russell, MN, CMSRN, CPP, ANNA Education Director.

Accreditation Statement:
The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

ANNA is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 17499.

This NCPD article meets the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission’s (NNCC’s) continuing nursing education requirements for certification and recertification.

ANNA urges participants to be aware of the CE requirements for re-licensure in the states in which they hold a license.

Learning Outcome:
After completing the learning activity, the learner will identify one possible patient-level barrier to in-center cognitive function screening and the feasibility of screening patients receiving dialysis in institutions for potential changes in cognitive function.

Credits Available