Hemodialysis Clinic Social Networks, Sex Differences, and Renal Transplantation.
This study describes patient social networks within a new hemodialysis clinic and models the association between social network participation and kidney transplantation. Survey and observational data collected between August 2012 and February 2015 were used to observe the formation of a social network of 46 hemodialysis patients in a newly opened clinic. Thirty-two (70%) patients formed a social network, discussing health (59%) and transplantation (44%) with other patients. While transplant-eligible women participated in the network less often than men (56% vs. 90%, p = 0.02), women who participated discussed their health more often than men (90% vs. 45.5%, p = 0.02). Patients in the social network completed a median of two steps toward transplantation compared with a median of 0 for socially isolated patients (p = 0.003). Patients also completed more steps if network members were closely connected (β = 2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16-4.29, p = 0.03) and if network members themselves completed more steps (β = 2.84, 95% CI 0.11-5.57, p = 0.04). The hemodialysis clinic patient social network had a net positive effect on completion of transplant steps, and patients who interacted with each other completed a similar number of steps.
Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Kidney Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
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A
Gillespie
Department of Communication and Social Influence, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
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EL
Fink
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
H M
HM
Traino
Center for Data Analytics and Biomedical Informatics, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
A
A
Uversky
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
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SB
Bass
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
J
J
Greener
Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Kidney Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
J
J
Hunt
College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
T
T
Browne
Abt Associates, Silver Spring, MD.
H
H
Hammer
Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
P P
PP
Reese
Center for Data Analytics and Biomedical Informatics, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
Z
Z
Obradovic
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
clinical research/practice; dialysis; disparities; gender; kidney transplantation/nephrology; mathematical model; social sciences; survey