Multisystemic Engagement & Nephrology Based Educational Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol on the Kidney Team at Home-Study (KTAH-Study)

We found nearly all patients to be in favour of LDKT (96%). However, multiple prohibiting and interrelated factors played a role in considering LDKT. We propose a model which addresses these factors as barriers to LDKT in our non-European patients. These barriers are:

1. A perceived gap in information;

2. Cognitions and emotions;

3. Social interference;

4. Non-communication with family and friends.

Additionally, we found that our patients held a welcoming attitude towards tailored education program, for instance a home-based education.

Primary outcomes with respect to living donation are: Knowledge, risk perception, subjective norm, communication and intention to engage in a certain behavior (choosing living donation). These concepts will be measured among the patient as well as their family and friends. We expect that they will show increased scores on the post-measurements compared to the pre-measurements. Secondary outcomes are the number applications for donor evaluation, the number of evaluations for living donation and the number of live kidney transplants among patients who participated in the study. Three months after the intervention we will compare the groups on these measures.

At start, 4 weeks later and 3 months later.

Patients will receive the study information after their second consultation with the nephrologist at the outpatient pre-transplantation clinic. The intervention consists primarily of two sessions at the patient's home. The first session (familiarization session) will be planned after patients have given their consent to participate. This interview is held with the patient alone. During this first session, a sociogram of the social environment will be constructed in order to determine which family members and/or friends (invitees) will be invited to the educational session. The second session (educational session) consists a meeting at the patient's home. This time it is intended that the invitees are present at the patient's home. In this session topics about kidney disease and possible forms of treatment will be discussed. We grant our patients that this discussion will be held in a save ambiance. In order to realize a save communication environment we will work with the therapeutic framework of systemic therapy.