Avoiding the issue: patients' (non)communication with potential living kidney donors

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplant Surgery
• Psychology

Background:

• Kidney transplantation is a vital treatment for end-stage renal disease.
• Living donor kidney transplantation offers a superior alternative to deceased donor transplantation.
• Identifying and securing a living kidney donor presents significant challenges for many patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of kidney transplant candidates in finding a living donor in the Netherlands.
• To understand the barriers and facilitators influencing the process of obtaining a living kidney donor.

Main Methods:

• Comparative study involving 84 kidney transplant candidates.
• Qualitative data collection through semi-structured interviews.
• Analysis of patient groups who found a living donor versus those who did not.

Main Results:

• Patients generally acknowledge the benefits of living kidney donation and are receptive to offers.
• A significant number of patients, across both groups, experience profound difficulty in directly requesting donation from potential donors.
• The reluctance to directly ask is a common challenge irrespective of successful donor acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Kidney transplant candidates require tailored professional support to address the emotional and relational aspects of soliciting living donors.
• Developing structured support programs is crucial to equip patients with effective communication strategies for discussing living kidney donation.
• Addressing the psychosocial barriers is essential for optimizing living donor kidney transplantation outcomes.