Healthcare professionals can assist patients with managing post-kidney transplant expectations

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment option for end-stage kidney disease. However, transplantation is not a cure and the prospective recipient needs to carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of receiving a transplant before agreeing to have the transplant. The objective of this commentary is to demonstrate that many kidney transplant recipients have unrealistic expectations of what life after transplantation involves. After monitoring participants in a randomised controlled trial through the first 12 months post-transplantation, we question whether patients understood the impact of receiving a transplant. In our study, participants were not prepared for the considerable time and effort involved in adhering to their medications. Participants felt challenged by the constant hospital, pathology and pharmacy visits; they were fearful that their transplant could reject; and they struggled with adapting to their new way of living. This paper offers new insights into understanding the life of patients post transplantation and the challenges of informing patients about the consequences of kidney transplantation. Understanding the challenges faced by new transplant recipients can help health professionals educate patients about life post-transplantation so patients have a genuine understanding of what they are consenting to, which is likely to enhance medication adherence and ultimately, graft success.