The Links to Chronic Kidney Disease: Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Family History

Objective: Increase knowledge of Chronic Kidney Disease and its risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure and family history), and encourage regular testing for individuals who are at increased risk.

Methods: The Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group (WI DAG) partnered with the Wisconsin Lions Foundation (WLF) and National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin (NKF-WI) to develop a 13-minute English/Spanish educational DVD entitled “The Links to Chronic Kidney Disease: Diabetes, High Blood Pressure , and Family History.”

Results: The DVD encourages people at risk to test for early detection of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and emphasizes prevention or management of the two major underlying risk factors: diabetes and high blood pressure.  Providers can play the DVD in waiting/exam rooms while a person waits to see his or her provider.  The Wisconsin Lions Foundation, Wisconsin Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, and National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin distributed 15,000 DVDs to health care professionals across Wisconsin.  Evaluation results are pending completion of participant feedback survey scheduled for Spring 2010.

Conclusion: Educational DVDs are an effective tool to increase the general public’s knowledge of potentially life-threatening diabetes complications and encourage regular testing.