Knowledge and Attitudes of Dialysis Patients Toward Kidney Transplantation: Preliminary Report from a Pilot Study Preceding a Cross-Sectional Nationwide Evaluation

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2024-05, Vol.56 (4), p.781-785
• Main Authors: Kurleto, Paulina, Kiersztejn, Maciej, Szumańska, Nina, Milaniak, Irena, Tomaszek, Lucyna, Dębska, Grażyna, Turkanik, Edyta, Siekierska, Barbara, Michalski, Rajmund, Tomaszek, Aleksandra, Pietrzyk, Jacek A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - surgery; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Poland; Renal Dialysis; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2024.02.004

•Although kidney transplantation is considered the best therapeutic method among patients with end-stage renal disease, only 5.5% of patients undergoing dialysis have been put on the waiting list for kidney transplantation in Poland.•Previous research conducted in the country showed that patients undergoing dialysis did not have sufficient knowledge about kidney transplantation.•The results of our pilot study also showed insufficient knowledge regarding kidney transplantation among patients who have undergone dialysis.•After the pilot study was completed, the first nationwide study of dialysis patients undergoing kidney transplantation began. This type of broad-spectrum research has not yet been performed in Poland. The knowledge and attitudes of dialyzed patients toward the best method of renal replacement treatment (ie, kidney transplantation [KTx]) may be the main factor motivating them to apply and be put on the national kidney transplant waiting list, resulting in a better prognosis. Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of dialyzed patients toward KTx. A pilot study is considered an introductory step before the nationwide project, which will cover dialysis centers in Poland from 2023 to 2024. The authorship 4-part questionnaire, including self-assessment knowledge, attitude dimension, pain and mental evaluation section, was made available to 30 patients with hemodialysis aged 30 to 75 years. The median age of the patients was 59 years. The primary cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was glomerulonephritis (33%). Most of the patients stayed on hemodialysis for 2 years or less (57%); 43% of the patients declared insufficient knowledge in the field of KTx, 41% of the patients were not informed at the nephrology clinic that KTx remains one of the methods of renal replacement therapy, and 65% did not receive information about the possibility of preemptive or early transplantation from a relative donor. Only 34% of the patients considered KTx to be a much better treatment option than dialysis, but only 20% of those were on the national waiting list for KTx. The pilot study showed insufficient knowledge of patients with ESRD regarding kidney transplantation as a method of renal replacement therapy. There is a need to introduce an effective educational program.