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Kidney International ®

Managing the Symptom Burden Associated With Maintenance Dialysis: Conclusions From a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference

The KDIGO Controversies Conference in May 2022 addressed the need for better symptom management in dialysis patients, highlighting gaps in routine symptom assessment.

Key recommendations include standardizing evaluations, incorporating nonpharmacologic approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise, and exploring new pharmacologic options such as difelikefalin. The conference stressed adapting healthcare systems for equitable symptom management and the need for ongoing research to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Kidney International Reports®

Virtual Nephron: Evaluation of a Novel Virtual Reality Educational Tool

This study assessed the effectiveness of DiAL-Neph, a 3D Virtual Reality physiology course designed to teach diuretic action and electrolyte transport in the nephron.

Internal medicine PGY1 residents were randomly assigned to either a VR or traditional learning group. Results showed that the VR group had higher initial test scores, though no significant difference was observed in long-term retention. Further research is needed to explore its impact on sustained knowledge and interest in nephrology.