Attitudes and Knowledge of Dialysis Patients Towards Kidney Transplantation

In Poland, approximately 4.2 million people suffer from chronic kidney disease \[1\]. In December 2022, a total of 20,198 patients were dialyzed in the country, of which 96% by hemodialysis (HD) and 4% by peritoneal dialysis (DO). In 2022, kidney transplantation was performed in 2.6% of patients dialyzed using the HD method and in 15.4% of patients dialyzed using the DO method \[2\]. According to the data of the Organizational and Coordination Center for Transplantation "Poltransplant", in 2022 on the national waiting list 1,119 people were registered for kidney transplantation. The average age of those waiting was 49 years \[3\]. In Poland, according to data from 2022, the average waiting time for transplantation in the case of the first transplant from the moment of registration on the waiting list was 387 days, and 1,106 days from the start of dialysis. Data show that only 5.5% of patients undergoing renal replacement therapy are on the waiting list \[3\].

Therefore, a study was designed to examine the knowledge and attitudes towards kidney transplantation among dialysis patients. The study will include a representative group of dialysis patients from all voivodeships and aims to identify positive and negative aspects related to patients' attitudes towards kidney transplantation.

The scientific value of the study is worth emphasizing, because so far in Poland no research has been conducted on the knowledge and attitudes towards kidney transplantation among dialysis patients in all voivodeships in the country. The study will identify the level of knowledge and attitudes of dialysis patients towards transplantation. The results of this study may contribute to the development and implementation of new educational and information programs that may increase the level of knowledge and influence attitudes towards transplantation, which may largely contribute to the increase in transplantation among people with chronic kidney disease.

References:

1. Gellert R, Durlik M, Małgorzewicz S. Raport 2019. Ogólnopolskie Badanie Pacjentów Nefrologicznych. Forum Nefrologiczne. 2020;13(3):149-63.
2. Dębska-Ślizień A, Rutkowski B, Rutkowski P et al. (2022). Aktualny stan leczenia nerkozastępczego w Polsce-2022. Nefrol Dializoter Pol, 26: 21-38.
3. Centrum Organizacyjno- Koordynacyjne do spraw transplantacji-Poltransplant. Biuletyn Informacyjny 2023. https://files.poltransplant.org.pl/Biuletyn_2023_www.pdf Accessed 13 November 2023.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

(1) patients on dialysis for at least 3 months; (2) patients who have no medical contraindications to kidney transplantation and patients who are temporarily suspended from KLO; (3) voluntary consent to participate in the study; (4) communicative knowledge of Polish

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) inability to make an informed and independent decision; (2) patients with absolute medical contraindications to kidney transplantation, i.e. recently diagnosed or disseminated cancer, persistent untreated infection, severe irreversible systemic disease, expected short life span, lack of cooperation (alcohol and drug addiction, mental illness)