Abstract: TH-PO1147
Does This Patient Still Want a Kidney Transplant? Changing Treatment Preferences Among African Americans on the Kidney Transplant Waiting List
Session Information
- Transplantation: Clinical - Pretransplant Management
November 07, 2019 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Transplantation
- 1902 Transplantation: Clinical
Authors
- Barrett, Tyler M., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Ellis, Matthew Jay, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Sudan, Debra, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Strigo, Tara Smith, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Davenport, Clemontina A., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Zhang, Xiyuan, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Riley, Jennie, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Alkon, Aviel N., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Ephraim, Patti, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Cabacungan, Ashley N., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Mohottige, Dinushika, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Boulware, L. Ebony, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
Background
African Americans spend substantial time on the kidney transplant waiting list. However, it is not known if their desires to receive transplants change while waiting for a kidney.
Methods
We studied self-reported treatment preferences among 300 African Americans on the deceased donor kidney transplant waiting list. Using a standard questionnaire, we listed each treatment option and asked, “As of today, which treatment option for kidney failure do you prefer?” We considered participants preferences as concordant (preference for kidney transplant) or discordant (preference for non-transplant treatment). We also measured participants’ decisional conflict using the validated Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), including subscales assessing the role of information, value clarity, support, uncertainty, and perceived decision effectiveness in decisional conflict. In multivariable analyses adjusting for participant demographics and history of nephrology care, we quantified associations between decisional conflict and discordant treatment preferences.
Results
Participants’ mean (SD) age was 52 (11) years, 56% were male, 18% were in or near poverty, 39% had a high school education or less, and their median (IQR) waitlist time was 0.8 (0.2-1.9) years. Most were undergoing dialysis (82%). Fewer than half (44%) had concordant treatment preferences, while 30% preferred in-center hemodialysis, 4% home hemodialysis, 11% peritoneal dialysis, 9% conservative management, and 1% were unsure. Most (63%) had at least some decisional conflict (score >0 on the DCS [range 0-100]). After adjustment, participants with conflict about the clarity of their values (OR [95% CI]: 1.72 [1.0-2.94], p<0.05) and about their ability to make an effective decision (OR [95% CI]: 2.06 [1.06-4.01], p<0.05) had statistically significant greater odds of discordant treatment preferences.
Conclusion
When provided with a range of potential treatment options, many African Americans on the kidney transplant waiting list stated that a kidney transplant was not their preferred therapy. Screening for decisional conflict among patients on the waiting list may help identify those who need further decision support.
Funding
- NIDDK Support