Assessing the acceptability and efficacy of teens taking charge: Transplant-A pilot randomized control trial

Adolescents who have undergone SOT are at heightened risk for graft failure. This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the feasibility and obtain preliminary estimates of efficacy of the online TTC program.

TTC is a web-based self-management program for adolescent SOT patients. Participants-kidney or liver transplant candidates or recipients-were enrolled over a 2-year period and randomized to either an intervention group that accessed TTC or a control group that did not access the program. Outcome measures included feasibility, how much the program was utilized, and pre- and post-intervention health-related outcomes evaluating self-management, self-efficacy, mood, use of healthcare services, and knowledge. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants post-intervention.

Forty-two participants were enrolled in the study. Participants in the intervention group expressed that they enjoyed learning about other teens' experiences, but reported barriers to accessing the site, such as being too busy, computer being too slow, and not being able to access the site on their mobile device. Time spent using the website was low for the majority of participants. Patients less than 1-year post-transplant accessed TTC more than patients who had their transplant for longer. No significant differences were found for health-related outcomes between groups.

No differences in health-related outcomes were found between groups. Further studies that examine barriers to engagement with web-based education tools are warranted.