Interviews With Lay Caregivers About Their Experiences Supporting Patients Throughout Kidney Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation
• Caregiver Support

Background:

• Lay caregivers are crucial for kidney transplant patients pre- and post-surgery.
• Limited research exists on kidney transplant caregiver experiences and engagement facilitators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe lay caregivers' experiences supporting kidney transplant recipients.
• To identify facilitators of caregiver engagement in the kidney transplant process.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving individual interviews with 23 caregivers of recent kidney transplant recipients.
• Inductive content analysis of interview transcripts to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Caregivers identified 6 key domains: preparation, evaluation, role discussion, resource exposure, transplant preparedness, and coping.
• Caregivers valued information provided by transplant centers but desired more direct communication and resources tailored to them.
• Social networks provided significant support; peer connection pathways were recommended.

Conclusions:

• Transplant centers can enhance caregiver engagement through improved information delivery and communication strategies.
• Featuring caregiver-specific information and communication can positively impact patient outcomes in kidney transplantation.