An innovative patient-mentoring program for kidney transplant patients to reduce anxiety and readmission rates: a randomized controlled trial leveraging patients

Abstract

Background: There is an increasing number of patient’s undergoing kidney transplantation in the United States. Kidney recipients have high occurrence of 30-day readmissions that leads to high hospital costs and decreased quality of life. Previous research found that a high level of post-transplant anxiety is correlated with increased likelihood of 30-day readmissions. The goal of this paper is to describe the study design and implementation process of a randomized control trial (RCT) using a standardized post-transplant mentoring program in order to reduce 30-day readmission and post-transplant anxiety among kidney transplant recipients. Methods/Design: A single institution RCT evaluating post-kidney transplant patient’s anxiety level and readmission rates (both 30- and 90-day). The intervention group will consist of a standardized mentoring process during a four-week period following transplantation and the control group will undergo routine post-operative (PO) care. The mentors will be prior kidney-transplant recipients who will undergo a standardized training process. They will contact the intervention group at week intervals to help counsel on proper PO care and give routine advice. Objective and subjective data will be collected at week intervals for all participants over a one-year study period. Discussion: Standardizing a post-transplant mentoring process has the possibility of improving transplant recipient quality of life, reducing post-transplant anxiety and result in fewer readmission rates.