Abstract
Background: Over the last few years, renal rehabilitation in patients with chronic kidney disease has
received widespread attention. However, the educational contents（ of renal rehabilitation） for the medical
staff have not been standardized.
Purpose: This study aimed at establishing minimum standards of knowledge and skills essential for
clinical practice in renal rehabilitation.
Methods: Registered instructors for renal rehabilitation were included in this study. A modified Delphi
technique, consisting of three rounds of questionnaires related to renal rehabilitation, was used to
obtain a consensus. An item on the questionnaire was defined as a minimum standard when it was rated
as “essential” by more than 70％ of the participants.
Results: One hundred seventeen participants responded to round 1 , with 101 and 93 participants
completing rounds 2 and 3 respectively. Round 1 consisted of 106 items, of which 95 were rated as
essential. Based on the responses obtained from the participants in round 1 , nine extra items were included
in round 2 , and, finally, 10 other items were rated as essential. In round 3 , one item was rated
as essential. Overall, 106 items were deemed essential as the minimum standards of clinical practice in
renal rehabilitation, three were not essential, and a consensus was not reached for six items.
Conclusion: The minimum standards of clinical practice in renal rehabilitation agreed upon in the
present study may help ensure that the medical staff involved in renal rehabilitation are qualified.
