Abstract: SA-PO0994
American Kidney Fund's New Transplant Resource Addresses Literacy Barrier Through Education and Empowerment for Transplant Candidates
Session Information
- Educational Research
October 24, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 1000 Educational Research
Authors
- Andracchio, Lauren, American Kidney Fund, Rockville, Maryland, United States
- Carballo, Joselyn, American Kidney Fund, Rockville, Maryland, United States
- Appiah, Ama E., American Kidney Fund, Rockville, Maryland, United States
- Woolley, Ryan, American Kidney Fund, Rockville, Maryland, United States
- Spigler, Michael, American Kidney Fund, Rockville, Maryland, United States
Background
A kidney transplant is the best treatment option for kidney failure, however there are many barriers preventing access to care. Among variables impacting adequate access to care is limited health literacy. While transplant education is available to people considering transplant, these resources oftentimes contain complicated terminology, making it difficult to understand for all audiences. To address this barrier and empower patients to talk to their doctor about transplant, American Kidney Fund (AKF) developed Your Guide to Kidney Transplant, written at an 8th-grade reading level in English and Spanish for people considering transplant. AKF distributed the guide through multiple channels, including mailing the guide to AKF financial assistance recipients. To evaluate the impact of this resource, AKF sent a survey to recipients with emails.
Methods
The survey included 11 questions on transplant status, readability, satisfaction, benefits, and additional transplant education needs. From October 2-13, 2025, AKF fielded the survey in both English and Spanish to 15,660 financial assistance recipients who received the transplant guide.
Results
237 people completed the survey; 40 Spanish-speakers, 197 English-speakers. Overall, survey respondents were satisfied with the resource (80%), found the guide easy to understand (84%), and shared that the guide gave them the tools to talk to their doctor (87%). Respondents cited top benefits of the guide were learning more about the transplant process (60%), gaining confidence to speak up about their health (38%), and talking to their doctor about their transplant status (24%). Most common themes on additional transplant education needs were post-transplant, more clarity on waitlist, and resources and education on finances.
Conclusion
Survey results demonstrate this guide successfully educated survey respondents on transplant and provided the tools needed to talk to their doctors about transplant. Furthermore, respondents cited various benefits of the guide, including increased knowledge and confidence, and speaking up to their transplant team about their status. This guide is an effective model to address literacy limitations in transplant education and AKF will use the same methodology to expand transplant education resources to reported educational gaps.
Funding
- Commercial Support – Vertex, Otsuka, Sanofi, Travere Therapeutics