Lived Experiences of Transplant and Dialysis in Older Kidney Patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising Access to and Outcomes from Transplantation in Older Potential Kidney Transplant Recipients: Mixed-methods Analysis of Patient Transplant Journey and Haemodialysis Experience
IRAS ID
362430
Contact name
Antonia Cronin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
As people get older, kidney disease becomes more common. For many, treatment involves either dialysis or a kidney transplant. A transplant can improve quality of life and life expectancy, but the process of deciding whether to have one can be complicated; especially for older or frailer adults who often have other health conditions, or who may find it hard to get to appointments or understand all the options available.
This patient-prompted research will explore the experiences of older people who are living with advanced kidney disease and have either recently had a transplant or are currently receiving regular dialysis. We aim to better understand their journey through kidney care, including how they felt about the information they received, how decisions were made, how they coped with treatment, and what they would want to improve.
We will invite around 15-20 patients aged over 60 who have had a recent transplant and 15-20 patients over 60 who are receiving haemodialysis treatment to take part in a one-off interview, either in person at a clinic or dialysis unit, or remotely (e.g. by phone or video call). The interviews will be recorded, typed up, and analysed to identify common themes. Transplant patients will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire called the Decisional Regret Scale, which helps researchers understand whether patients are happy with the choices they made.
This study will help healthcare professionals improve how they support older people when discussing kidney treatment options, including how to make shared decisions that match patient values and needs. The findings will also inform how dialysis units and transplant teams can improve communication and care planning for older patients.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/NW/0062
Date of REC Opinion
9 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion