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Influence of educational programs on perceived barriers toward living donor kidney exchange programs
E S Woodle1, R Boardman, A Bohnengel
1Division of Transplantation, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 95249, USA. woodlees@uc.edu
Transplantation Proceedings
|April 26, 2005
Summary
An educational conference did not significantly reduce perceived barriers to living donor kidney exchange programs (LDKEPs). Further interventions are needed to overcome obstacles like donor costs and legal concerns for kidney transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Living donor kidney exchange programs (LDKEPs) offer a solution for ABO and crossmatch incompatible living donor kidney transplantation.
- Despite their advantages, LDKEPs have not reached their full potential in increasing kidney transplant rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of an educational conference on transplant professionals' perceptions of barriers to living donor kidney transplantation and LDKEPs.
Main Methods:
- A statewide LDKEP was established in Ohio between 2002 and 2004.
- A questionnaire using a Likert scale assessed transplant professionals' attitudes toward LDKEP barriers before and after an educational conference.
Main Results:
- Forty-eight participants completed pre- and post-conference questionnaires.
- The conference improved understanding of kidney exchange programs (KEPs) and the utility of a web-based matching system.
- Key barriers, including donor travel costs, legal concerns, perceived lack of superiority over desensitization, and donation to strangers, remained unaffected by the conference.
Conclusions:
- Large-scale educational conferences alone are insufficient to overcome the identified barriers to LDKEPs.
- Targeted interventions are necessary to address specific concerns and promote wider adoption of LDKEPs in kidney transplantation.