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. 2019 May 31;4(9):1285-1295.
doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2019.05.771. eCollection 2019 Sep.

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

Rachel E Patzer  1   2   3 , Laura McPherson  1 , Nakeva Redmond  4 , Derek DuBay  5 , Carlos Zayas  6 , Erica Hartmann  7 , Laura Mulloy  8 , Jennie Perryman  3 , Stephen Pastan  3   9 , Kimberly Jacob Arriola  10
Affiliations

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

Rachel E Patzer et al. Kidney Int Rep. .

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.

Keywords: education; intervention; kidney transplant.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Steps to kidney transplantation and role of dialysis facility and transplant center in facilitating transplant access. ESRD, end-stage renal disease.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Study design for Web-based Living ACTS (About Choices in Transplantation and Sharing) multicenter study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Screenshots of Living ACTS (About Choices in Transplantation and Sharing) Web-based intervention, projectlivingacts.org.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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