Establishing a Framework for Long-Term Follow-Up: A Survey of Perspectives and Preferences of Living Kidney Donors
1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 3Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 4Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 103
Keywords: Kidney, Living donor, Monitoring
Topic: Clinical Science » Kidney » 39 - Kidney Living Donor: Long Term Outcomes
Session Information
Session Name: Kidney Living Donor: Long Term Outcomes
Session Type: Rapid Fire Oral Abstract
Date: Sunday, June 5, 2022
Session Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:50pm-7:00pm
Location: Hynes Room 206
*Purpose: There is currently no established standard for long-term follow-up of living kidney donors in Canada. To inform a new national standard, we sought to identify perspectives and preferences of living kidney donors regarding their follow-up care.
*Methods: A cross-sectional survey, developed based on the literature and interviews with living kidney donors, was conducted in the two largest living donor programs in Canada. The topics included impacts of donation, and experience, satisfaction, needs and preferences for follow-up. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. This work was financially supported by Canadian Blood Services.
*Results: The survey was completed by 685 living kidney donors who donated between 1988-2021. The response rate was 43%. The majority of respondents were 55-74 years old (53%), female (63%) and White (80%). Over 50% were employed (either full-time or part-time) and the majority had an annual household income of >70K CAD per annum. The majority of donors (72%) saw their family physician at least once a year for follow-up donation care, and 70% of donors were satisfied with their long-term follow-up care plan. Time post-donation was not associated with satisfaction. Living kidney donors expressed a preference for receiving in-person long-term follow-up care by their family physician annually, with intermittent involvement by a nephrologist in the event of hospitalization, health problems or kidney-related issues. 65% of living kidney donors preferred life-long follow-up. A reminder for follow-up by the transplant centre was associated with completeness of follow-up care.
*Conclusions: The majority of Canadian living kidney donors are satisfied with the current model of follow-up care based on annual contact with their family physician. Donors wanted periodic involvement in their care by a nephrologist if health or kidney-related issues arise. The presence of a universal health care system in Canada facilitates the delivery of a family physician centred model for long-term follow-up, and further work is needed to determine the preferred framework in settings where insurance coverage, donor socioeconomic status and health care models differ.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Singh SK, Caton N, Johnston O, Hanson CS, Dominello A, Yetzer K, Chang D, Tong A, Gill JS. Establishing a Framework for Long-Term Follow-Up: A Survey of Perspectives and Preferences of Living Kidney Donors [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/establishing-a-framework-for-long-term-follow-up-a-survey-of-perspectives-and-preferences-of-living-kidney-donors/. Accessed May 16, 2025.« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress