Transplant professionals vary in the long-term medical risks they communicate to potential living kidney donors: an international survey.
BACKGROUND
Discussing long-term medical risks with potential living donors is a vital aspect of informed consent. We considered whether there are global practice variations in the information communicated to potential living kidney donors.


METHODS
Transplant professionals participated in a survey to determine which long-term risks are communicated to potential living kidney donors. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed in person and by electronic mail.


RESULTS
We surveyed 203 practitioners from 119 cities in 35 different countries. Sixty-three percent of participants were nephrologists, and 27% were surgeons. Risks of hypertension, proteinuria or kidney failure requiring dialysis were frequently discussed (usually over 80% of practitioners discussed each medical condition). However, many practitioners do not believe these risks are increased after donation, with surgeons being less convinced of long-term sequelae compared with nephrologists (P < 0.01). About 30% of practitioners discuss long-term risks of premature cardiovascular disease or death with potential donors.


CONCLUSIONS
Transplant professionals vary in the long-term risks they communicate to potential donors. Improving consensus will enhance decision-making, and emphasize best practices which maintain good, long-term donor health.
Housawi
A A
AA
Division of Nephrology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Young
A
A
Boudville
N
N
Thiessen-Philbrook
H
H
Muirhead
N
N
Rehman
F
F
Parikh
C R
CR
Al-Obaidli
A
A
El-Triki
A
A
Garg
A X
AX
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003142:Communication; D034742:Electronic Mail; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007668:Kidney; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D009398:Nephrology / Q000379:methods; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment