*Purpose: Although live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) may help address organ shortage, patients lack knowledge about living donation and are reluctant to speak to potential live donors (PLDs). The Live Donor Champion intervention (LDC) helped patients with ESRD overcome these barriers with the help of a champion (family, friend, or community member). Together, they were 5.5 times more likely to identify a PLD. As LDLT becomes more prevalent, we hypothesized that LDC modified with a liver transplantation curriculum would be similarly effective in facilitating the identification of PLDs.

*Methods: We conducted a pilot study of a liver-adapted LDC with 14 actively listed, adult LT candidates. LDC was a three-month education and advocacy training program where patients and a champion learned to speak with others about LDLT. Participants completed baseline, per-meeting, and final surveys to assess intervention feedback and changes in comfort, knowledge, and attitudes about LDLT.

*Results: Patients were, on average, 61 years old, 80% White/Caucasian, and had a median list time of 1.3 years. Champions were, on average, 57 years old, 79% White/Caucasian, and 55% the spouse/partner of the patient. 36 percent of patients appreciated interactions with clinicians. Comfort initiating conversations about LDLT increased across all relationship categories (Figure 1). Candidate and champion knowledge scores were higher after completing LDC (from 85% to 90%, p=0.058) (Figure 2). Among 14 candidates, 6 received at least 1 potential live donor inquiry during the study period.

*Conclusions: LDC increased ESLD patients’ knowledge about living donation and comfort discussing LDLT with PLDs. Patients and champions benefitted from additional interactions with transplant clinicians. While multiple PLDs came forward for LDC participants, further study is needed to determine the long-term effects on LDLT rates.

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