ABSTRACT
Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher risk for infection caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation contributed to the adaptation to new health promotion and education tools, including virtual methods. The aim of this study is to analyze the guidelines made through the Renal Health profile on Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic to patients with CKD. Method(s): This is a quantitative, descriptive study, with the analysis of posts, comments and likes, carried out on the Renal Health (@renal_health) Instagram profile, an educational project based in Brazil, initiated as part of an ISN Clinical Research Program Project, which addresses kidney health, from February 2020 to May 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Result(s): Currently, the Renal Health Instagram profile (https://www.instagram.com/renal_health/) has 1333 publications and more than 10,000 followers. It is a profile administered by a nurse, a nephrologist and a team of public health researchers at the University of Fortaleza, Brazil. A total of 106 posts about COVID-19 were analyzed, covering news about the pandemic, guidelines on prevention and vaccination, association between COVID-19, CKD and transplantation, among others. There were 13,815 likes and 1,068 comments. The most liked post (n = 696) was a photo with a news item: "InCor discharges Covid patient with transplanted lung". Among the comments, it was possible to observe several compliments, reports of patients with CKD and kidney transplants, as well as doubts, which were answered by the team that maintains the profile. The most commented post was also a news item: "Hospital denies transplant to unvaccinated patients", with 146 comments. Conclusion(s): The general population's interest in the association between COVID-19 and kidney disease is evident. It is important to point out the role of the profile as an online educational tool that helps in clarifying doubts about the new coronavirus, in addition to acting as an easy and practical way to acquire knowledge from reliable sources, regarding the risks that patients with kidney diseases have when contracting the virus, as well as many other relevant subjects, always emphasizing the relevance of preventive measures, including vaccination. From the study, it is noticeable that, during the pandemic, there were a large number of clarified doubts, as well as positive feedbacks about the platform. Therefore, the Renal Health profile proved to be an important health education mechanism during the pandemic. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023