Background: Liver transplantation evaluation is demanding on liver transplant candidates. Self-care skills are essential for successful progression through the transplantation process. Self-care difference may explain disparities. This abstract aims to describe self-care antecedents, measures, and outcomes in candidates and analyze racial differences. Methods: Liver transplant candidates at a large transplant center completed a survey capturing demographics, health literacy by the Newest Vital Sign scored 0-6 with<4 considered low health literacy, Lubben Social Network Scale scored 0-30 with <12 considered low social support, and Self-Efficacy Scale for Chronic Disease (SE, scaled 1-10). Low medication adherence was defined by taking none of their medications for more than two days over the previous 3 months. Comparisons of were made by white or black race. Results: We surveyed 37 patients between October and November 2016. The cohort was 62% white, 27% black, 59% male, and the mean (SD) age was 57.1 (10.9). Median income was $40,000-$49,000/yr. Low health literacy was seen in 70% of the population and low social support in 11%. Low medication adherence was reported by 9%. Figure 1 shows proportions of subjects by black/white race with low health literacy, low social support, SE below the population median, low medication adherence, and income <$50,000/yr. Low health literacy was reported by more black than white patients (90% vs 61%, p=0.123). Poor medication adherence was reported by more black patients vs. white patients (25% vs 5%, p=0.166). A higher proportion of black patients reported income <$50,000/yr (80%) vs white patients (45%, p=0.124). Conclusion: Racial differences exist among liver transplant candidates in health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, and medication adherence. Reasons should be further explored. A relationship to socioeconomic status should be considered. Lack of statistical significance may be due to small populations in early recruitment. The results of this study provide insight about self-care and racial disparities in liver transplant candidates and inform efforts to design self-care interventions.

CITATION INFORMATION: Wedd J, Gander J, Smith K, Mujtaba S, Subramanian R, Parker R, Reilly C, Patzer R. Racial Disparities in Self-Care Among Liver Transplant Candidates. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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