Willingness of hemodialysis patient’s family members toward kidney donation: A cross sectional study

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Ahmad Makeen, Sadagah L F, Alharthi M, Almalki A H

Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
King Saudi Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

: J Nephrol Ren Dis

Abstract

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Background & Objectives: There is a significant shortage of kidneys available for donation. Family members of Hemodialysis (HD) patients are experiencing the suffering of their close relatives, which can be a factor toward better acceptance to kidney donation. The knowledge is another important factor that might affect willingness, it was found in a study conducted in Nigeria that the presence of desirable knowledge about organ donation will influence the rate of willingness and in another study where educational intervention done, they found this approach significantly improves the knowledge and changes the attitude and beliefs towards organ donation. We aimed in this study to estimate the rate of willingness to donate kidneys as Live Donors (LD) and identify related potential barriers among family members of HD patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study involving family members of adult HD patients from King Abdulaziz Medical City and King Abdullah International Foundation- Dialysis Project-Jeddah. Participants were interviewed through phone calls using a pre-tested questionnaire. Calculated sample size was 385.

Results: A total of 370 family members of HD patients were included. Median age was 37 (IQR: 33 to 44) years and 64% were male. All participants were first-degree relatives to HD patients. Majority reported willingness to donate kidneys as LD (n=300, 81%), a proportion 0.81% with 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.77-0.85. Only 42 (11%) graded their knowledge about kidney transplantation as high or very high. On multivariable analysis, less willingness was shown with age >40 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 0.459; 95% CI 0.266- 0.792; P 0.005) and female gender (AOR 0.496; 95% CI 0.287-0.856; P 0.012).

Conclusion: Majority of family members of HD patients were willing to donate kidneys. The willingness rate was lower among participants 40 years of age and older as well as among female gender. Majority of patients graded their knowledge about kidney transplantation as average or lower. Therefore, education-targeting relatives of HD patients may help optimize knowledge and hence improve acceptance of kidney donation.

Biography

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Ahmad Makeen Senior Internal Medicine Resident King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.