Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Renal Transplantation in Individuals Undergoing Transplant Evaluation

Abstract

Introduction: The underutilization of kidney transplant as the preferred treatment for end-stage kidney disease is influenced by a lack of knowledge, poor attitudes, and various socio-demographic characteristics. Negative attitudes toward renal transplant disengage patients from the evaluation process and often hinder their likelihood of receiving a transplant. Purpose: Determine whether a standardized educational session successfully improves knowledge and attitudes toward kidney transplant. Explore which socio-demographic variables are associated with more negative baseline attitude scores. Design: The program evaluation utilized a pre-test/post-test design to assess attitudes and knowledge toward renal transplant before and after an educational session. The pre- and post-surveys were distributed to a convenience sample of 341 and 115 patients, respectively, between the months of September and December 2019. Results: Exposure to a kidney transplant education program resulted in greater levels of knowledge ( P = 0.019, d = 0.334). Individuals with no college education were found to have more negative baseline attitudes toward renal transplantation ( P = 0.048, d = 0.382). Conclusion: More research is needed to explore how knowledge, attitudes, and certain socio-demographic characteristics impact a patient’s intention to pursue kidney transplant. Uncovering reasons as to why certain populations of individuals have more negative baseline attitudes toward kidney transplant may also provide clinicians and transplant programs with valuable information on how pre-transplant education can be tailored to meet the needs of specific populations.