Implementation of the Live Donor Champion Program

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Live Donor Champion Concept: Even with adequate education of live donation, many kidney transplant candidates still feel ill equipped to ask others to consider donating. Friends and family are often eager to help and may not be able to serve as donors themselves, but might be able to provide substan...

Live Donor Champion Concept: Even with adequate education of live donation, many kidney transplant candidates still feel ill equipped to ask others to consider donating. Friends and family are often eager to help and may not be able to serve as donors themselves, but might be able to provide substantial instrumental support. A "Live Donor Champion" (LDC) is a friend, family member, or community member who serves as an advocate for the candidate in their pursuit of live donation. The Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center has developed a six-month program that provides education and advocacy training to waitlist candidates and their LDCs. The instrumental support provided by the LDC bridges a critical link between education and action. In pilot studies, candidates with an LDC were more likely to undergo Live Donor Kidney Transplant (LDKT) than matched controls. Using LDCs to increase live donation is a novel approach that has garnered widespread enthusiasm, including support from United Network for Organ Sharing. Live Donor Champions (LDCs) as Instrumental Support for Transplant Candidates. Approaching potential donors is a daunting and overwhelming experience for Kidney Transplant (KT) candidates. Current educational programs address the medical aspects of dialysis, KT, and donation, but neglect the health communication skills to discuss transplantation and to spread awareness through their various social networks. While transplant candidates are hesitant to engage others in conversations about End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and live donation, friends, family members, or community members are eager to spread awareness and provide advocacy for the patient. In pilot studies, this intervention improved knowledge regarding LDKT and provided instrumental support to the transplant candidates. Understanding what factors are associated with the successful implementation of this program will enable its eventual dissemination at transplant centers nationwide ultimately improving nationwide education and awareness of LDKT. In order to successfully do so, a scientifically rigorous implementation study is necessary.

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