eHealth psychosocial care for living kidney donors: an implementation study

L. Wirken, H. van Middendorp, C.W. Hooghof, L.B. Hilbrands, A.W.M. Evers

Friday 16 march 2018

10:10 - 10:15h at Willem Burger Foyer

Categories: Donation, Session (poster)

Parallel session: Poster session 9: Donation

Previous research indicates that most living kidney donors do not experience longer-term problems after donation. However, small subgroups of donors do experience problems in physical or psychosocial functioning after donation, such as depressed mood, fatigue, or pain. Currently, evidence-based psychosocial interventions for kidney donors with high distress levels are scarce. eHealth cognitive-behavioral interventions have been found to be effective for a broad range of adjustment problems, including dealing with pain or fatigue, negative mood, and difficulties in social relationships. In the current study, an eHealth psychosocial care path consisting of screening and intervention tools for living kidney donors is implemented in different transplantation centers in the Netherlands.

All donor candidates who register at the transplantation center complete a short screening questionnaire on physical and psychosocial functioning, to identify donors at risk for adjustment problems after donation. Results of this screening are presented in a Donor Profile Chart, which is accessible for all transplant professionals involved in donor care (nephrologists, medical social workers, donor nurses).

Donors at risk are offered guided eHealth cognitive behavioral therapy in which they work on specific treatment modules that are tailored to their personal treatment goals, such as specific donation-related problems, temporary physical limitations, dealing with fatigue, social-relational problems, or negative mood. Donors receive weekly tailored psycho-educational texts or assignments and online support.

This eHealth care path will be implemented in psychosocial donor care, using the RE-AIM model for translation from research into clinical practice. In the different transplantation centers, the new eHealth care path will be gradually implemented into the current psychosocial care of donors. The usability and value of the care path will be evaluated in donors and transplant professionals on multiple time points during the implementation study.