Pilot Study of Health IT Feasibility and Impact on Quality of Life for Young Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients
Nephrology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Meeting: 2018 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: D105
Keywords: Age factors, Kidney transplantation, Quality of life
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session D: Kidney Complications: Late Graft Failure
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Hall 4EF
Background: Young adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are an at-risk population and long-term survival rates are significantly lower than expected. A large majority of young adults in the US use mobile technology so the potential for healthcare applications as a management tool is intuitive. One potential healthcare application is a patient-oriented platform named TapCloud that integrates patient-reported information, medication reminders and a patient-provider communication link.
Methods: Utilizing an IRB-approved, prospective cross-sectional pilot study of prevalent 18-34 year-old KTRs cared for at the University of Washington Transplant Program, we assessed the feasibility and potential efficacy of the TapCloud technology in improving KTRs' quality of life (QoL) over 3 months.
Results: The cohort was a valid representation of our diverse population, including age, time from transplant, eGFR, and other pertinent demographics. Twenty-two of 23 enrollees completed study. Median Checkin [IRQ] was = 15 [1,45]. Use of TapCloud was consistent across subgroups, with signs that early post-transplant recipients (<1 yr), younger KTRs (<29 yrs) and KTRs with high school or equivalent education may have used the app more than older, more educated KTRs and those further from transplant.
| Table 1. Association of TapCloud use with transplants, age and education | ||
| N (%) | TapCloud Checkins,
median [IQR] |
|
| Transplant (from screening date) | ||
| ≤ 1 yr | 7 (33) | 26 [5, 52] |
| > 1yr | 14 (67) | 9 [1, 34] |
| Age | ||
| ≤ 29 | 10 (48) | 21 [1, 34] |
| > 29 | 11 (52) | 8 [1, 52] |
| Education | ||
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12 (60) | 24 [4, 59] |
| > High school diploma or equivalent | 8 (40) | 2 [0, 31] |
Increased use and earlier post-transplant use were associated with improved physical measures of QoL via KTQ-25 survey (higher scores are better) from start to end of study. While 43% of patients had a start of study physical symptoms score >2.5, by 3 months 67-70% of KTRs were >2.5. The transplant nurses and physicians were surveyed and found the technology to be of limited benefit without integrating with existing EMRs.
Conclusions: This pilot study provides valuable feasibility and patient-oriented data demonstrating mobile health technology may help improve KTR quality of life and clinical outcomes and requires further study.
CITATION INFORMATION: Blosser C., Katz R., Himmelfarb J., Bansal N. Pilot Study of Health IT Feasibility and Impact on Quality of Life for Young Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Blosser C, Katz R, Himmelfarb J, Bansal N. Pilot Study of Health IT Feasibility and Impact on Quality of Life for Young Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients [abstract]. https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/pilot-study-of-health-it-feasibility-and-impact-on-quality-of-life-for-young-adult-kidney-transplant-recipients/. Accessed November 20, 2025.« Back to 2018 American Transplant Congress