A Survey for Patients and Caregivers Aiming to Understand and Improve the Care of Patients at High Risk of Transfer From Peritoneal Dialysis to Hemodialysis: (ULIFT-PD)

Understand, Plan and Improve Care and Wellbeing of Patients at High Risk of Transfer From Peritoneal Dialysis to Hemodialysis - Phase 2 (Survey)

Home dialysis is encouraged in Canada and peritoneal dialysis is the most common home dialysis method. However, many patients discontinue peritoneal dialysis, often transferring to hemodialysis. Despite the frequency of this transition, little is known about its impact on patients.

Overall, the UPLIFT-PD program aims to fill this gap by studying the transition from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis. The specific goal of this mixed methods sub-study is to conduct a national survey to ask patients and caregivers about priorities and preferences when they anticipate a transfer from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis. This survey will be co-created by patient-partners and dialysis experts.

Results from this survey will then be used in other phases of UPLIFT-PD program, detailed in other registrations, which will support people facing a transition from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis..

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Hemodialysis; Transition; Peritoneal Dialysis (PD); Kidney Replacement Therapy

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Annie-Claire Nadeau-Fredette, MD MSc; Phone Number: 6141 514-252-3400; Email: ac.nadeau-fredette@umontreal.ca
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Émilie Robitaille; Phone Number: 5289 514-252-3400; Email: emilie.robitaille.cemtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients with lived experience of peritoneal dialysis and transitions to hemodialysis, as well as caregivers of such patients, recruited from dialysis centers and patient communities across multiple centers.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult (≥18 years)

2. One of the following:

   • Patient who experienced a PD-to-HD transition in past 12 months
   • Patient currently receiving peritoneal dialysis
   • Caregiver (self-defined, including spouses, family members, or friends) of individuals meeting the above criteria
3. Able to read English or French
4. Able to complete the survey in paper or web-based format
5. Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years
• Unable to provide consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Survey Participants; Survey participants will include both patients (or their caregivers) having experienced a transition to hemodialysis in the past year or currently receiving peritoneal dialysis

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Priorities and Challenges Related to PD-to-HD Transitions	Measured using Likert-scale responses assessing perceived importance of transition-related factors (e.g. preparedness, timing of discussions, vascular access planning, psychosocial impact). Likert-scale from 0 (lowest importance) to 9 (highest importance)	At survey completion (Baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Preferences for Clinical Scenarios Related to PD-to-HD Transitions	Assessed using a discrete choice experiment evaluating trade-offs between attributes such as duration on PD, risk of complications, and planned vs. unplanned HD transfer.	At survey completion (Baseline)
Perceptions of Successful Transition	Agreement with proposed definitions of successful PD-to-HD transitions based on care pathways.	At survey completion (Baseline)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Qualitative Themes Related to Transition Experiences	Analysis of open-ended responses to identity key themes and concepts.	At survey completion (Baseline)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal
• Collaborators: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Annie-Claire Nadeau-Fredette, MD MSc, CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'ile de Montréal

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 20, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Transfer to hemodialysis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026-4258; 203760_1 (Other Grant/Funding Number: CIHR)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Considering the survey nature of the study and in compliance with our ethic board requirements

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No