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

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Rachel Elizabeth Patzer, Emory University; Laura McPherson, Emory University; Nakeva Redmond, CommunicateHealth, Inc.; Derek DuBay, Medical University of South Carolina; Carlos Zayas, Augusta University; Erica Hartmann, Piedmont Hospital; Laura Mulloy, Augusta University; Jennie Perryman, Emory University; Stephen Pastan, Emory University; Kimberly Jacob Arriola, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-09-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2019 International Society of Nephrology
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2019.05.771
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Kidney International Reports
• ISSN: 2468-0249
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 9
• Start Page: 1285
• End Page: 1295
• Grant/Funding Information: This study is supported by funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK114891).
• Keywords: kidney transplant; intervention; education
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

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.