Designing Peer Mentorship for CKD: Insights into Patient Needs and Preferred Outreach Methods

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in Latinx and low-income communities, often face unclear information, uncertainty about their condition, and social isolation. While peer mentoring may help, little is known about how patients want to engage with such programs. This study examines patient-identified needs and preferred strategies for participating in CKD-focused peer mentoring. Methods: Ten focus groups with 57 patients and 17 care partners at a California safety-net hospital explored peer mentoring desired outcomes and engagement methods. All were Medicaid recipients (54% women, 43% men); 59% spoke Spanish, 27% English, 14% bilingual. Data were thematically analyzed and priorities ranked via Nominal Group Technique. Results: Participants emphasized the need for practical, relatable, and emotionally supportive guidance. Top desired outcomes included: (1) information to prevent kidney damage, (2) motivation, (3) emotional coping strategies, and (4) honest, unfiltered information (Figure 1). Themes reflected gaps in communication and the emotional toll of CKD. Preferred engagement methods were: (1) trusted staff, (2) phone calls, and (3) text messages (Figure 2). Conclusion: Patients strongly support peer mentoring programs offering emotional support, practical knowledge, and culturally relevant communication. Prioritizing patient needs and engagement preferences is key to effective, equitable CKD peer mentoring models.