Trainee Awareness of Transplant Barriers for Undocumented Immigrants

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplantation Immunology
• Health Equity

Background:

• Undocumented immigrants face barriers to kidney transplantation, including misinformation about eligibility.
• Previous reports indicate eligible patients are wrongly denied transplants due to immigration status.
• Addressing knowledge gaps among healthcare professionals is vital for patient access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess nephrology trainees' understanding of transplant eligibility criteria for undocumented immigrants.
• To evaluate trainees' awareness of transplant benefits and insurance options for this population.
• To examine the association between knowledge and referral practices.

Main Methods:

• A national survey of nephrology fellows was conducted in May 2023.
• The survey utilized an existing American Society of Nephrology instrument.
• Logistic regression and Chi-square tests analyzed associations between knowledge and referral.

Main Results:

• Only 39.1% of trainees correctly identified living donor transplant eligibility and 31.7% for deceased donor.
• A significant portion (45%) were uncertain about insurance options for undocumented patients.
• Accurate knowledge of eligibility strongly correlated with referring undocumented patients for transplant (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Nephrology trainees demonstrate significant knowledge deficits regarding transplant eligibility for undocumented immigrants.
• Lack of awareness regarding insurance further complicates access.
• Educational interventions are needed to ensure equitable kidney transplant access for all eligible patients.