Health professional and transplant recipient perspectives of kidney transplantation in regional, rural, and remote Australia - a survey study.

BACKGROUND

Despite higher rates of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure in rural and remote populations, these patients are less likely to receive a kidney transplant. Additional barriers to kidney transplantation are associated with the need to travel to metropolitan areas where medical testing and transplantation facilities are located. We determined the opinions, attitudes, and experiences of both health professionals and recent kidney transplant recipients regarding kidney transplantation processes in Australia for patients residing in regional, rural, and remote areas.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey containing closed and open-ended questions was administered, with kidney transplant recipients from northern Queensland and Australian kidney transplant health professionals surveyed. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while a descriptive thematic method was used to analyse qualitative data.

RESULTS

Australian transplant health professionals (82) and recent kidney transplant recipients (77) participated. Almost all (97%) health professional participants agreed that receiving psychosocial support from peers would be beneficial for potential transplant recipients. Kidney transplant recipients rated information prior to transplant, potential medication side effects, high financial costs incurred related to treatment, and access to ongoing medication supply as the most important aspects in relation to their own experience. Prevalent themes around improving transplant experiences included enabling timely and flexible access to transplant assessment, reducing financial hardship, and fostering comprehensive psychosocial support.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple aspects of current kidney transplant processes in Australia, and particularly northern Australia, could be optimised to improve patient experiences and clinical outcomes for regional, rural, and remote kidney transplant recipients.