Pre-transplant education expansion improves pediatric patient outcomes
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Allograft survival rate is 96% after a process improvement project developed a more in-depth education program, according to a presentation at the American Nephrology Nurses Association National Symposium.
“In order to be successful, renal transplantation requires adherence to a multitude of factors that many recipients are ill-prepared to undertake,” researchers wrote, adding that “an ongoing, dynamic process of communication and education” is necessary.
Previously, families and patients treated at Arnold Palmer Hospital’s Hewell Kids Kidney Center received all information about transplants during a single day at the transplant center. After several months of developing a formal guideline, the department implemented an education program at the hospital. The education incorporates discipline-specific insights from a transplant nurse coordinator, child life specialist, dialysis nurse and clinical social worker. Topics included kidney anatomy, the transplant process, nutrition, care after the transplant, medications and financial information. Patients and their parents took a 25-question test with multiple choice and true or false questions before and after receiving education.
Overall, the post-education assessment scores improved by an average of 18% compared with pre-education assessments.
Researchers wrote “more data needs to be gathered to determine its effectiveness long-term and the impact the education will have on allograft survival.”
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Martinez A, et al. A multidisciplinary quality improvement project to develop a formal educational protocol on pre-renal transplant education for patients and their families. Presented at: American Nephrology Nurses Association National Symposium; Aug. 29-31, 2020 (virtual meeting).
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