Technology-enabled Social Network Intervention to Increase Live Donor Kidney Transplantation

Over a 3-year period the investigators will conduct a pilot 2-arm parallel randomized trial among patients referred for kidney transplantation at a single transplant center to compare the effects of the intervention over 6 months of intervention use and follow-up.

Participants will be recruited from a single transplant program in the US. Each week, electronic records will be accessed to identify patients and their carers who present for transplant evaluation at the transplant center for a kidney transplant, are aged 18 years and older, speak English, and are competent to provide informed consent . The investigators will exclude patients previously exposed to any component of the intervention, listed for transplantation at another center, and seeking multiorgan transplantation.

A stakeholder Advisory Council, whose members include patients and care partners, will review and provide ongoing feedback on the recruitment and retention plan. They will also provide input on assistive dissemination tools for organizations to engage individuals to use the resource.

Each potential participant will be invited to the study by a researcher who will describe the study and answer and questions, and provide a copy of the consent form describing study procedures and potential risks.

Those who sign electronic consent to participate will be asked to complete a baseline sociodemographic and pre-test survey. Upon completion, computer-generated randomization will stratify participants by self-reported race (Black versus Other), with equal allocation to 2 treatment arms: the intervention or usual care. Condition assignment of each participant will be concealed from transplant providers, but participants will become aware of their treatment assignment once they access the intervention.

KT-CONNECT is a digital-analog intervention with human support. It is based on animated video education targeted to patients, donors, and support persons, designed to address knowledge gaps, confidence , and lack of tools to pursue kidney transplantation and living donation that were identified in literature reviews, formative research, and video development studies as critical for optimal prospective kidney recipient and donor participation in LDKT. Other key components include (1) personalized donor outreach materials, (2) email reminders about study resources, and (3) practical assistance to ensure access to intervention, and (4) advise use the intervention and encourage outreach actions. All components of the intervention were developed through a user-centered design approach by involving kidney failure patients and social network members, to improve reach, usability and increase the likelihood of uptake.

In both intervention and control arms, the investigators chose 6 videos from the entire series to be delivered sequentially for a total duration of 13 minutes. The video content sets the stage for the intervention and introduces the viewer to an overview of LDKT, including addressing common misconceptions about live kidney donation, donor eligibility, donor evaluation, kidney paired donation, donation costs, and donor recovery. After completing the proscribed videos everyone then receives weekly emails with links to the full video curriculum centralized on a website and other local resources. Email messages introduce study videos and features and local resources that may interest users, provide access links, and encourage video viewing and sharing. Messages will be personalized with the participants name and provide researchers contact information. The videos on the website are activated for sharing through various modalities, including text, email, Facebook, and Twitter. The website also contains templates and examples for other donor outreach materials and practical engagement materials to promote awareness of the website. The website is open access from any electronic device. Finally, at clinic appointments participants will receive practical assistance to use intervention materials.

In the intervention arm, donor outreach will be supported by telephonic human guides who will provide tailored implementation support in 7 areas that include ensuring access, advising use, recommending features, encouraging donor outreach, and referrals to clinical services, support groups, community resources. Human guides will interact with participants over a 6-month period.

Control participants will not receive the intervention.

All participants routinely receive educational materials from non-study sources through usual Transplant Center protocols including written materials and clinical provider communications. Providers may recommend the study website or individuals may find it on their own.

After completing the proscribed video education, all participants will be invited to fill out serial surveys at 3 months post-evaluation. Participants will receive up to 6 reminders (5 automatic and 1 personalized) to complete surveys. At study conclusion, participants may be invited to an exit interview.