Culturally Competent Transplant Program Improves Hispanics' Knowledge and Attitudes about Live Kidney Donation and Transplant

Abstract

Context Hispanics receive disproportionately fewer live donor kidney transplants than non-Hispanic whites. Increasing Hispanics' knowledge and changing attitudes about live kidney donation may reduce these disparities. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of culturally and linguistically competent educational sessions delivered through Northwestern University's Hispanic Transplant Program. Design Baseline and postsession questionnaires were used to evaluate changes in patients' and family members' knowledge and attitudes toward live kidney donation and program satisfaction. Knowledge items related to live kidney donation were scaled, and changes in scores were evaluated via a paired t test. Multiple regression analysis of follow-up knowledge scores controlled for baseline scores was used to estimate the effects of patients' and families' sociodemographic characteristics. Changes in attitude items, including comfort with exploring live kidney donation, were analyzed with χ2 tests. Results One-hundred thirteen patients and family members completed surveys before and after an education session. Respondents' knowledge about live kidney donation and transplant increased significantly ( P < .001) between baseline and after the session. Patients' attitudes toward live kidney donation became more favorable ( P < .02), as did family members' attitudes toward being a donor ( P < .001) after participating in the program. All respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with the program and preferences for culturally congruent care. Conclusions The educational sessions provided by the Hispanic Transplant Program effectively addressed commonly shared Hispanic concerns about live kidney donation. Culturally congruent education increased Hispanic patients' and family members' knowledge and improved attitudes about live donor kidney transplants.