title: Education and informed consent about increased risk donor kidneys: a national survey of non-physician transplant providers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transplant providers must understand the definition of increased risk donor (IRD) organs to effectively educate transplant candidates and obtain informed consent. This study surveyed non-physician providers from 20 transplant centers about their educational and informed consent practices of IRD kidneys.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous, web-based survey about the content and timing of education and informed consent for potential recipients of IRD kidneys, providers' knowledge of IRD kidneys, and provider and center characteristics was completed by most (67%; 90 of 135) of those invited to participate; 87 responses were included in analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most (80%) reported understanding the concept of IRD kidneys. However, few reported sufficient knowledge of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network definition of IRDs, risk factors, screening tests, window periods, and infection transmission rates. Most (56%) felt uncomfortable with obtaining specific informed consent for IRD kidneys. Most respondents received informal education about IRD kidneys (78%), and recognized the need for (98%) and were interested in receiving (99%) further education on this topic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-physician transplant providers need and are interested in better education about IRD kidneys to effectively educate patients and obtain patients' informed consent.
authors.affiliation: Center for Healthcare Studies, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Organ Transplantation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mullee
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beauvais
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McNatt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rassiwala
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000592:standards*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CDC; HBV; HCV; HIV; OPTN-increased risk; clinician; education; ethics; infectious disease transmission; informed consent; kidney transplantation; safety; training