Psychosocial evaluation interview protocol for pretransplant kidney recipients

Social work's potential role in preoperative evaluations was generally unheard of only 15 years ago, as it was considered the domain of direct health care professionals such as nurses and surgeons. Social workers have traditionally focused on the peri- and posttransplant phases. However, clinical social workers are playing an increasingly vital role in the care and psychosocial evaluation of potential kidney recipients and donors. Caring for and evaluating potential kidney recipients includes myriad unique clinical and personal challenges. This article's aim is to help clinicians gain a better clinical picture and assessment of people who choose to participate as kidney recipients by using a clinical interview protocol. Using this protocol with potential kidney recipients and their collaterals (family members, peer associates, clergy, and so forth) clarifies internal and external motivations and issues. Furthermore, using such a protocol can help clinicians ascertain potential barriers and obstacles that could interfere with a patient's compliance and can perhaps help clinicians deal with such obstacles in a more comprehensive manner. Finally, this article also attempts to illuminate the ethical complexities involved in choosing to be a potential kidney recipient.