Learning About Kidney Disease in Adults
The following organizations offer in-depth tutorials on all aspects of kidney disease and available treatment options.
American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) Patient Plan
The AAKP Patient Plan is a series of books and newsletters which will tell you what to expect, what your needs will be, who will help you, what you need to know and how to make your journey a success.
http://www.aakp.org/brochures/patient-plan/
Plan de la AAKP para el Paciente© en Espanol
www.aakp.org/espanol/patient-plan-spanish/
Kidney School
Kidney School will help you learn to take charge of your health, so you can live long and live well. Kidney School is an interactive, web-based learning program in 20-minute modules. It was designed to help people learn what they need to know to understand kidney disease and its treatment, adjust to kidney disease, make good medical choices, and live as fully as possible.
http://www.kidneyschool.org
Life Options
Life Options Rehabilitation Program (http://www.lifeoptions.org) provides free information and Materials about living long and living well with kidney disease.
Of special interest to new patients are Dialysis Answers fact sheets:
Starting Dialysis (0-3 months)
http://www.lifeoptions.org/catalog/catalog.php?prodCat=pic2
Early Dialysis (4-12 months)
http://www.lifeoptions.org/catalog/catalog.php?prodCat=pic3
Medline Plus
MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. It offers an interactive patient tutorial on the basics of kidney failure in both English and Spanish.
English: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/kidneyfailure/htm/index.htm
Spanish: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/kidneyfailurespanish/htm/index.htm
National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP)
NKDEP is an initiative of the National Institutes of Health, designed to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by kidney disease and its complications. NKDEP aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of kidney disease, the importance of testing those at high risk (those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney failure), and the availability of treatment to prevent or slow kidney failure.
http://nkdep.nih.gov/
Nephron Information Center
The Nephron Information Center was founded by Stephen Z. Fadem, MD, FACP, FASN in an effort to educate both patients and the general public about chronic kidney diease in an effort to promote prevention and good treatment outcomes. The following link is to "A Guide to Chronic Kidney Disease" section.
http://ckd.nephron.com/nephsites/htkw/r0_html
People Like Us Live Web Series
National Kidney Foundation (NKF) People Like Us is an informative series for individuals with chronic kidney disease who may need to start treatment for kidney failure soon. The goal is to help you learn about the treatment options for kidney failure, so you will be able to make the best choices for yourself and your family. Currently available online...
An Introduction to the Kidneys and Chronic Kidney Disease
www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_intro/index.cfm
Treating Kidney Failure With Hemodialysis
www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_hemo/index.cfm
Treating Kidney Failure With Peritoneal Dialysis
www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_pd/index.cfm
Treating Kidney Failure With Transplantation
www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_trans/index.cfm
Treating Kidney Failure and Eating Healthy
www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_nutr/index.cfm
Managing Your Life With Kidney Failure
www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_manag/index.cfm
PKD Foundation
The PKD Foundation was created for the express purpose of raising funds for the support of research efforts for Polycystic Kidney Disease. Over the years, it has been the major source of public information and education on Polycystic Kidney Disease. Visit thier Web site to learn the basics about this genetic and hereditary disorder. It also serves as a resource to find support groups in major cities across the country.
http://www.pkdcure.org
Last updated on: July 17, 2009