What factors explain the association between socioeconomic deprivation and reduced likelihood of live-donor kidney transplantation? A questionnaire-based pilot case-control study

OBJECTIVES: Socioeconomically deprived individuals with renal disease are less likely to receive a live-donor kidney transplant (LDKT) than less deprived individuals. This study aimed to develop and pilot a questionnaire designed to determine what factors explain this association. DESIGN: Questionnaire development and a pilot case–control study. Primary aims were to develop and evaluate a questionnaire, assess response rates, and to generate data to inform full-scale study design. SETTING: A UK tertiary renal referral hospital and transplant centre. PARTICIPANTS: Invited participants comprised 30 LDKT recipients (cases) and 30 deceased-donor kidney transplant (DDKT) recipients (controls). Stratified random sampling was used to select cases and controls from all adults who had been transplanted at Southmead Hospital North Bristol National Health Service Trust, between 1 August 2007 and 31 July 2013. METHODS: Participants were posted questionnaires that were accompanied by an invitation letter from the renal consultant responsible for their care, and a patient information leaflet. Non-responders were sent a second questionnaire after 4–6 weeks. Data were extracted from returned questionnaires, and entered onto a Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. RESULTS: 63% (n=38) of those invited returned questionnaires. 16 (42%) declined to answer the question on income. 58% of participants had not asked any of their potential donors to consider living kidney donation (52% LDKT vs 65% DDKT, p=0.44). There was some evidence of a difference between the R3K-T knowledge score for recipients of LDKTs (mean 6.7, SD 1.8) and for recipients of DDKTs (mean 4.9, SD 2.1), p=0.008. Variables’ distribution for the exposure variables of interest was determined. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study will inform a sample size calculation for a full-scale study. The findings of the full-scale case–control study will help us better understand how socioeconomic deprivation is related to the type of transplant an individual receives. This understanding will help us to design and appropriately tailor an intervention to reduce inequitable access to live-donor kidney transplantation.