Improving Indigenous Patient Access to Kidney Transplantation - IMPAKT

Factsheet:

IMPAKT factsheet

Aims:

To identify Indigenous Australians' barriers to accessing renal transplantation and to propose strategies to reduce disparities in Indigenous Australians' access to renal transplantation.

Methods:

The research program includes the following five component studies:

  • a survey of Australian nephrologists' attitudes and practices;
  • an in-depth qualitative study of Indigenous and non-Indigenous end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients' knowledge, attitudes, education and decision-making concerning transplantation;
  • a multi-centre cohort study of patients commencing dialysis at eight renal units in urban, rural and remote areas;
  • a review of the transplant 'work-up' requirements;
  • a modelling study of alternative cadaveric allocation algorithms.

Status/Results:

The survey of Australian nephrologists' attitudes and practices relating to transplantation (component 1) was undertaken in 2004. Manuscripts relating to this component have been drafted and submitted for publication and conference presentation.

Data collection for the in-depth qualitative study (component 2) was completed in February 2006. Interviews were conducted with over 100 staff and over 250 patients from renal units in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Analysis of these interviews is due for completion in September 2006.

The cohort study (component 3) and the review of the transplant 'work-up' requirements (component 4) are both commencing in July 2006. In combination, these components of IMPAKT will allow analysis of the degree to which disparities can be attributed to differences in patients' clinical characteristics.

Institute Investigators:

  • Alan Cass
  • Cilla Preece
  • Kate Anderson
  • Meg Jardine

Collaboration:

Funding Agencies: