They really want to go back home, they hate it here: the importance of place in Canadian health professionals' views on the barriers facing Aboriginal patients accessing kidney transplants

Abstract

Aboriginal Canadian patients with end-stage kidney disease receive disproportionately fewer transplants than non-Aboriginal patients. The reasons for this are poorly understood and likely to be complex. This qualitative study employed thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with Canadian kidney health professionals (n=23) from programs across Canada to explore their perspective on this disparity. Individual-level factors were the most commonly reported barriers to Aboriginal patients accessing transplants-most notable of which was patients' remote living location. Understanding the role of 'place' as a barrier to accessing care and the lived experiences of Aboriginal patients emerged as key research priorities.