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African Americans’ discussions about living‐donor kidney transplants with family or friends: Who, what, and why not?
Author(s) -
DePasquale Nicole,
Ellis Matthew J.,
Sudan Debra L.,
Ephraim Patti L.,
McElroy Lisa M.,
Mohottige Dinushika,
Davenport Clemontina A.,
Zhang Xiyuan,
Peskoe Sarah B.,
Strigo Tara S.,
Cabacungan Ashley N.,
Pounds Iris,
Riley Jennie A.,
Falkovic Margaret,
Boulware L. Ebony
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.14222
Subject(s) - psychosocial , medicine , context (archaeology) , psychological intervention , odds , affect (linguistics) , psychology , logistic regression , psychiatry , paleontology , communication , biology
Background Although discussions with family or friends can improve access to living‐donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), they remain an understudied step in the LDKT process. Methods Among 300 African American transplant candidates, we examined how sociodemographic, clinical, LDKT‐related, and psychosocial characteristics related to the occurrence of LDKT discussions with family or friends. We also analyzed the relation between discussion occurrence and donor activation on transplant candidates’ behalves (at least one donor inquiry or completed donor evaluation in the medical record). We assessed associations of discussion characteristics (context, content, and perceptions) with donor activation among discussants, and we identified discussion barriers among non‐discussants. Results Most candidates (90%) had discussed LDKT. Only family functioning was statistically significantly associated with discussion occurrence. Specifically, family dysfunction was associated with 62% lower odds of discussion than family function. Family functioning, discussion occurrence, and different discussion characteristics were statistically significantly related to donor activation. The most prevalent discussion barrier was never having thought about discussing LDKT. Conclusions Family functioning affected the likelihood of discussing LDKT, and family functioning, discussion occurrence, and discussion characteristics were associated with donor activation. Advancing understanding of how family functioning and LDKT discussions affect progression to LDKT may benefit interventions to increase LDKT.