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Lack of Listing Status Awareness: Results of a Single‐Center Survey of Hemodialysis Patients
Author(s) -
Gillespie A.,
Hammer H.,
Lee J.,
Nnewihe C.,
Gordon J.,
Silva P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03524.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hemodialysis , dialysis , transplantation , kidney transplantation , population , single center , medical record , listing (finance) , family medicine , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , pediatrics , environmental health , finance , economics
This study surveyed hemodialysis patients in an urban transplant center serving a predominantly African American population to identify existing and potential barriers to transplantation. The survey used the Dialysis Patient Transplant Questionnaire (DPTQ) to collect self‐reported data including interest in a deceased donor kidney transplant and self‐reported listing status. We compared patients’ survey data to their UNOS listing and computerized medical record at time of interview. Among the 116 patients surveyed, 83 (71.6%) reported interest in a deceased donor kidney transplant. Eighteen (52.9%) of the 34 patients undergoing pretransplantation workup were unaware of their true listing status, and 88.9% of these patients mistakenly believed they were wait listed. All of the patients who mistakenly thought they were listed were undergoing workup. Finding that a significant number of hemodialysis patients who want a deceased donor kidney transplant mistakenly think they are listed when they are not is a documentable deficiency in communication and a potential barrier to transplantation. The finding highlights a correctable problem in communication and work flow that could help to improve transplant center effectiveness. It also reveals that self‐reported waiting list status significantly overestimated true waiting list status for our patients at time of interview.