Aim: To compare the effectiveness of multidisciplinary care with traditional medical care on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult pre-dialysis patients (stages 3-5).
Methods: Eleven databases were searched for articles published between January 1990 and July 2009. The Joanna Briggs Institute-Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used to assess the methodological quality of retrieved articles and extract data.
Results: Only four articles out of 927 were included in the systematic review. Two reported the results of randomised controlled trials and two reported observational studies. The data were not presented in a format that allowed a meta-analysis to be performed and therefore a narrative summary of these articles is presented.
Conclusion: Multidisciplinary care is deemed to be effective in delaying the progression of CKD in adults who are in the pre-dialysis phase of this condition. Education that aims to increase the knowledge and understanding of the causes of CKD is an important component of the care.
Implications for practice: Members of the multidisciplinary team should draw on their specific expertise to educate the patient about CKD. The nephrologist or a nurse practitioner should devise a management plan jointly with the patient and provide regular reviews.