Knowledge about Benefits of Kidney Transplantation: A Survey of Dialysis Patients

Knowledge about benefits of kidney transplantation (KT) is an important determinant of the patients' decision to pursue KT. We investigated factors associated with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients' knowledge about KT benefits.

We randomly invited 1,400 dialysis patients to complete a survey about benefits of KT. Using multivariate analysis, we calculated odds ratios for the probability of choosing the correct responses.

Of 673 participants, 17.6% agreed with benefit of KT for older patients, 36.5% agreed with benefit of KT for diabetic patients, and 31.5% agreed with benefit of pre-emptive KT. Non-white (OR: 0.68) and older (OR: 0.65) participants were less likely to agree with the survival benefit of KT. Older participants were less likely to agree with benefit of KT for older (OR: 0.64), and diabetic patients (OR: 0.54). Participants with less than high school education were less likely to agree with benefit of pre-emptive KT (OR: 0.58). Participants with a previous KT were more likely to agree with benefit of KT for older (OR: 2.32), and diabetic patients (OR: 2.50), and with the benefit of pre-emptive KT (OR: 2.34). Participants who had received 3 or more modes of education about KT were more likely to agree with benefit of KT for diabetic patients (OR: 2.04), and with benefit of pre-emptive KT (OR:1.67).

Dialysis patients have limited knowledge about benefits of KT. Previous KT, exposure to 3 or more modes of KT education, and education attainment are significant contributors to knowledge about KT benefits.