Renal Nutrition Course Guatemala 18 &19 March 2013

This one and a half day training course was developed by our IFKF member organization “FUNDANIER”. It aimed to help dietitians to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake the appropriate dietetic assessment, management and monitoring patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Click here for the program.

AIM
To provide the dietitian with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure the appropriate approach and counseling for patients with CKD.

The III workshop "The Importance of Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease" was held on March 18 and 19, 2013 in Guatemala City. The Workshop was attended by 57 dietitians and faculty members from the capital city, from several other parts of the country and from three countries of Central America (San Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica)

Six weeks before the workshop, selected reading material was circulated to the delegates. Each day had a series of master classes ( 3 hours on the first day and 8 hours on the second day) with a case discussion sessions of 45 minutes each on the first and second day.

The first day of the workshop was an overview of kidney disease. The second day was devoted to a review of CKD nutrition, tools to assess nutritional status, kidney disease epidemiology, causes for protein caloric wasting, obesity and metabolic syndrome, recommendations for diets for non dialyzed CKD patients and those on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis and minerals and trace elements requirements.

The teaching faculty included Dr. Joel Kopple and three national experts: Licda Victoria Rodriguez, Lic. Cristina and Dr. Randall Lou

Following the workshops, delegates were able to: Describe the most common causes of CKD and the factors that may affect progression 

• To understand how to interpret relevant information: diagnosis, biochemistry, medication, diet and the risk of progression 
• To evaluate the practical aspects of diet therapy in adults on peritoneal dialysis and maintenance hemodialysis
• To evaluate the practical aspects of diet therapy in children on peritoneal dialysis and maintenance hemodialysis 
• To explain the causes of malnutrition and nutrition related problems requiring intervention in CKD
• To understand the multidisciplinary approach of patients with CKD
  
  

Some of the participants/Faculty members:
Left to right: Nancy Rivera, Mario Hendriquez (El Salvador), Gabriela Guerrero, Edgar Reyes, Karla Sebastian, Joel Kopple (USA), Randall Lou Meda, Victoria Rodriguez, Viviana de Rodas, Lilian Rodriguez, Cristina Brolo.

IFKF educational course guidelines

IFKF Guidelines for Collaboration between the IFKF and Individual Kidney Foundations for Educational Courses for Kidney Healthcare Professionals (06/12/2012)

 Introduction: These guidelines aim to standardize the procedures and processes with regard to collaborations between the IFKF and individual kidney foundations concerning the organization and implementation of sponsored educational courses for health-care professionals, and particularly nurses, dietitians and social workers/counselors, who are interested in the care of people with or at risk for kidney disease. The IFKF President is responsible, either directly or through the President’s designee, for inviting individual kidney foundations to participate. The President’s designee, if he/she is a healthcare professional, in association with the education committee is responsible for defining the over-all content of the educational courses Individual IFKF members and associate members are encouraged to recommend kidney foundations that may benefit from such educational courses in their own region and elsewhere. PURPOSE: Provide a much needed service for kidney patients. Energize individual kidney foundations Increase the diversity and importance of the mission of kidney foundations. Expand the visibility of kidney foundations with regard to both; the public at large and increase the standing of these organizations with scientific and professional societies in the medical field, including societies of nephrology. Serve as a mechanism for fundraising for kidney foundations Increase the visibility and branding of the IFKF 

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with or at risk for kidney disease, particularly dietitians, nurses, social worker/counselors, and other professionals involved with this care (e.g. pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, transplant coordinators etc).  Kidney foundation employees and volunteers should also be encouraged to attend.

Duration of Courses:
Depending on location and the specific local needs, it is anticipated that most courses will be of 2-3 days duration and situated in convenient locations to the kidney foundation that is hosting or sponsoring the educational program.

Organization:
Role of the IFKF:
The IFKF Education Committee or its designee will be available to assist in organizing and planning educational courses for all professionals that care for kidney patients, but it is the host kidney foundation that will specify its requirements and needs.  The host kidney foundation will ultimately be responsible for developing the courses unless the foundation and the Education Committee agree on an alternative.  

The final program, once developed, will be submitted to the Education Committee sufficiently far in advance of the date of the courses for the Committee’s review and approval.  This process is necessary in order to obtain official IFKF approval to warrant IFKF branding and to guarantee a high level of standards. 

The IFKF will advertise the courses on its website and by its newsletters and other means, to provide experts to help both organize and teach these courses, as requested by the local kidney foundations, and possibly to help raise funds to conduct these courses. 

Role of the Local Organization Committee (LOC):
The host kidney foundation will appoint a local organizing committee composed of the relevant professional disciplines and others as needed. 

The host kidney foundation is responsible for providing the financial resources required to cover its expenses and financial responsibilities 

The host kidney foundation is responsible for all local logistics:
• To invite competent course teachers from the local, national or international renal community (IFKF) as the kidney foundation desires.
• To provide travel and accommodation costs, if any that are necessary for the teachers to participate in these courses.
• The local organizing committee with participating professional organizations may seek to obtain course accreditation as part of their CPD requirements (Continuous Professional Development)
• Organize meeting facilities, administration, registration, badges, certificates, lecture hand outs, audio equipment, translating facilities, catering etc.
• Advertise, create a website, obtain financial support from companies, exhibitors and the setting up of exhibitions 

NB These guidelines will be subject to an annual review in addition any changes that may be needed in between. All changes should be agreed upon by the President, the President’s designee and the Chair of the Education Committee. 

Joel Kopple and Marianne Vennegoor Chair IFKF Education Committee 6 December 2012