Disaster preparation in kidney transplant recipients: a questionnaire-based cohort study from a large United States transplant center

Background: Few quantitative assessments have assessed disaster preparation in kidney transplant patients. This is a survey-based assessment of disaster preparedness of 200 patients at the University of California San Francisco, USA. Materials and methods: Patients answered questionnaires assessing their level of preparedness as well as barriers to preparation. Preparedness was scored based on response to 7 questions. Univariate analyses compared participant characteristics extracted from the medical chart against three tertiles of preparedness: low (scores 0 – 2), medium (scores 3 – 4), and high (scores 5 – 7). California counties were coded and mapped by average preparedness scores. Results: Only 30% of patients were highly prepared for disasters. Participants were prepared with available medication for 2 weeks (78.5%) and least prepared in having a medical ID bracelet (13%). Significant minorities of patients (40% of patients or more) were unprepared with lists of medications, important phone numbers and disaster kits. Preparedness was not associated with demographic and clinical characteristics. Monterey County was the most prepared of the 31 California counties sampled (score of 4.25 out of 7). Conclusion: All patients should be educated regarding disaster preparation. County and medical services should collaborate to address specialized populations in general preparedness planning.