A Culturally Sensitive Web-based Intervention to Improve Living Donor Kidney Transplant Among African Americans.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

There are pervasive racial disparities in access to living donor kidney transplantation, which for most patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) represents the optimal treatment. We previously developed a theory-driven, culturally sensitive intervention for African American (AA) patients with kidney disease called Living ACTS (About Choices in Transplantation and Sharing) as a DVD and booklet, and found this intervention was effective in increasing living donor transplant knowledge. However, it is unknown whether modifying this intervention for a Web-based environment is effective at increasing access to living donor transplantation.

METHODS:

We describe the Web-based Living ACTS study, a multicenter, randomized controlled study designed to test the effectiveness of a revised Living ACTS intervention in 4 transplant centers in the southeastern United States. The intervention consists of a Web site with 5 modules: Introduction, Benefits and Risks, The Kidney Transplant Process, Identifying a Potential Kidney Donor, and ACT Now (which encourages communication with friends and family about transplantation).

RESULTS:

This study will enroll approximately 800 patients from the 4 transplant centers. The primary outcome is the percentage of patients with at least 1 inquiry from a potential living donor among patients who receive Living ACTS as compared with those who receive a control Web site.

CONCLUSION:

The results from this study are expected to demonstrate the effectiveness of an intervention designed to increase access to living donor transplantation among AA individuals. If successful, the Web-based intervention could be disseminated across the >250 transplant centers in the United States to improve equity in living donor kidney transplantation.

• Authors: Rachel E Patzer, Laura McPherson, Nakeva Redmond, Derek DuBay, Carlos Zayas, Erica Hartmann, Laura Mulloy, Jennie Perryman, Stephen Pastan, Kimberly Jacob Arriola
• Journal: Kidney international reports (Kidney Int Rep) Vol. 4 Issue 9 Pg. 1285-1295 (Sep 2019) ISSN: 2468-0249 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31517147 (Publication Type: Journal Article)