Anyone Approached for a Research Study?

[Stacy Without An E]

A few weeks ago one of the nurses approached me about participating in a National Study to determine if Dialysis six days a week for two hours would be more beneficial and less stressful on the body than three days a week for three to four hours.

The preliminary tests have involved the following:

1) MRI

They paid $75 to take part which was pretty cool.  I have to undergo another one in four months.

2) Portable EKG

I've been hooked up to so many wires over the years, I forgot it was taped to me after an hour.

3) Mental & Physical Exercises

These were simple and almost insulting, but I guess if I were older and more feeble they could be considered difficult.  They test you again at the end of the study.

Once all the preliminary tests are done you are randomized into the Control or Variable Group.  I find out next week if I'm 3 days or 6.

I participated for the following reasons:

1) The extra cash.  They also pay extra for travel time if you're six days a week.
2) Regardless of the schedule, I FINALLY get to go back to nights which the Schedule Nazi wouldn't place me on.
3) I've heard great things about patients on six days a week.  More energy, less side effects.

Has anyone else been approached about a research study?

Stacy Without An E

[jbeany]

No research offers here - but I was wondering who was doing your study?  National Study by whom?  Is it a government study?

Are they using NXstage or another model?

Just curious!

[Rerun]

Great opportunity.  Keep us posted on how it goes.   

[RichardMEL]

I have been involved in a study for the past 3 or so years - in fact I believe it is about to be finished - for me anyway.

Anyway the study is worldwide I think. Run by some people in New Zealand I believe.  It's called the IDEAL study and is all about "what is the IDEAL time to start dialysis?" as in if you start "earlier" or "later" what effects are there on your quality of life, dialysis, health etc. Luckily I was picked to start in the "later" group and finally started dialysis when I was at 6% function. I believe they usually start at about 10%?? Not sure. Anyway it has involved various tests - yearly ECG's and ultrasounds and stuff, and filling in paitent diariies once a month(easy) and a quality of life survey every 3 months. Plus they take the blood test results from dialysis and other labs as well.

It's been a pretty easy study to be part of.

[BigSky]

Never been approached for a study but did take part in a survey about pricing points of Nephro.  Got $50 for about 20 minutes of questions over the phone.