1
|
Choi JJ, Bhasin S, Levstik J, Walsh P, Oldham MA, Lee HB. Association between psychosocial factors and left ventricular assist device implant outcomes: A systematic review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2024; 90:132-140. [PMID: 39180882 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2024.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial assessment is a core component of the multidisciplinary evaluation for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The degree to which psychosocial conditions are considered a contraindication to LVAD implantation continues to be debated. This systematic review examines modifiable psychosocial factors as predictors of outcomes in patients undergoing LVAD implantation. METHODS We conducted a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. The search resulted in 2509 articles. After deduplication, abstract and full-text review, 20 relevant articles were identified. RESULTS Included studies evaluated socioeconomic status (n = 6), caregiver characteristics (n = 6), non-adherence (n = 6), substance use (n = 13), and psychiatric disorder (n = 8). The most commonly measured outcomes were all-cause death, readmission rate, and adverse events. Studies varied widely in definition of each psychosocial factor and selected outcomes. No psychosocial factor was consistently associated with a specific outcome in all studies. Socioeconomic status was generally not associated with outcomes. Non-adherence, psychiatric disorder, and substance use were associated with higher risks of mortality, adverse events, and/or readmission. Findings on caregiver characteristics were mixed. CONCLUSION Of the psychosocial factors studied, non-adherence, psychiatric disorder, and substance use were the most consistently associated with an increased risk of mortality, readmission, and/or adverse events. Heterogeneity in research methodology and study quality across studies precludes firm conclusions regarding the impact of psychosocial factors on long-term patient outcomes. The results of this review reveal a need for adequately powered studies that use uniform definitions of psychosocial factors to clarify relationships between these factors and outcomes after LVAD implantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joy J Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
| | - Shreya Bhasin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Johannes Levstik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Patrick Walsh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Mark A Oldham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Hochang Benjamin Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Larsson JE, Kristensen SL, Deis T, Warming PE, Graversen PL, Schou M, Køber L, Rossing K, Gustafsson F. Influence of socioeconomic status on rates of advanced heart failure therapies. J Heart Lung Transplant 2024; 43:920-930. [PMID: 38408549 DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2024.02.1452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with a lower likelihood of referral for advanced heart failure (HF) evaluation, but it is not known whether it influences rates of advanced HF therapies independently of key hemodynamic measures and comorbidity following advanced HF evaluation in a universal healthcare system. METHODS We linked data from a single-center Danish clinical registry of consecutive patients evaluated for advanced HF with patient-level information on socioeconomic status. Patients were divided into groups based on the level of education (low, medium, and high), combined degree of socioeconomic deprivation (low, medium, and high), and household income quartiles. Rates of the combined outcome of left ventricular assist device implantation or heart transplantation (advanced HF therapy) with death as a competing risk were estimated with cumulative incidence functions, and Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, central venous pressure, cardiac index, and comorbidities. RESULTS We included 629 patients, median age 53 years, of whom 77% were men. During a median follow-up of 5 years, 179 (28%) underwent advanced HF therapy. The highest level of education was associated with higher rates (high vs low, adjusted HR 1.81 95% CI 1.14-2.89, p = 0.01), whereas household income quartile groups (Q4 vs Q1, adjusted HR 1.37 95% CI 0.76-2.47, p = 0.30) or groups of combined socioeconomic deprivation (high vs low degree of deprivation, adjusted HR 0.86 95% CI 0.50-1.46, p = 0.56) were not significantly associated with rates of advanced HF therapy. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a lower level of education might be disfavored for advanced HF therapies and could require specific attention in the advanced HF care center.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johan E Larsson
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Søren Lund Kristensen
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tania Deis
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peder E Warming
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter L Graversen
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Schou
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lars Køber
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kasper Rossing
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Finn Gustafsson
- Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
McKneally MF. A Surgeon's Perspective From the Sharp End of Surgical Innovation. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2024; 24:79-81. [PMID: 38635439 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2024.2327881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
|
4
|
Laspro M, Thys E, Chaya B, Rodriguez ED, Kimberly LL. First-in-Human Whole-Eye Transplantation: Ensuring an Ethical Approach to Surgical Innovation. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2024; 24:59-73. [PMID: 38181210 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2023.2296407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
As innovations in the field of vascular composite allotransplantation (VCA) progress, whole-eye transplantation (WET) is poised to transition from non-human mammalian models to living human recipients. Present treatment options for vision loss are generally considered suboptimal, and attendant concerns ranging from aesthetics and prosthesis maintenance to social stigma may be mitigated by WET. Potential benefits to WET recipients may also include partial vision restoration, psychosocial benefits related to identity and social integration, improvements in physical comfort and function, and reduced surgical risk associated with a biologic eye compared to a prosthesis. Perioperative and postoperative risks of WET are expected to be comparable to those of facial transplantation (FT), and may be similarly mitigated by immunosuppressive protocols, adequate psychosocial support, and a thorough selection process for both the recipient and donor. To minimize the risks associated with immunosuppressive medications, the first attempts in human recipients will likely be performed in conjunction with a FT. If first-in-human attempts at combined FT-WET prove successful and the biologic eye survives, this opens the door for further advancement in the field of vision restoration by means of a viable surgical option. This analysis integrates recent innovations in WET research with the existing discourse on the ethics of surgical innovation and offers preliminary guidance to VCA programs considering undertaking WET in human recipients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika Thys
- University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Butler CR, Reese PP, Cheng XS. Referral and Beyond: Restructuring the Kidney Transplant Process to Support Greater Access in the United States. Am J Kidney Dis 2024:S0272-6386(24)00743-1. [PMID: 38670253 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2024.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Advocates for improved equity in kidney transplants in the United States have recently focused their efforts on initiatives to increase referral for transplant evaluation. However, because donor kidneys remain scarce, increased referrals are likely to result in an increasing number of patients proceeding through the evaluation process without ultimately receiving a kidney. Unfortunately, the process of referral and evaluation can be highly resource-intensive for patients, families, transplant programs, and payers. Patients and families may incur out-of-pocket expenses and be required to complete testing and treatments that they might not have chosen in the course of routine clinical care. Kidney transplant programs may struggle with insufficient capacity, inefficient workflow, and challenging programmatic finances, and payers will need to absorb the increased expenses of upfront pretransplant costs. Increased referral in isolation may risk simply transmitting system stress and resulting disparities to downstream processes in this complex system. We argue that success in efforts to improve access through increased referrals hinges on adaptations to the pretransplant process more broadly. We call for an urgent re-evaluation and redesign at multiple levels of the pretransplant system in order to achieve the aim of equitable access to kidney transplantation for all patients with kidney failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine R Butler
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Veteran Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
| | - Peter P Reese
- Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xingxing S Cheng
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Appel JM. Social Support: From Exclusion Criteria to Medical Service. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2024; 33:17-22. [PMID: 36794428 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180123000014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
One of the criteria used by many transplant centers in assessing psychosocial eligibility for solid organ transplantation is social support. Yet, social support is a highly controversial requirement that has generated ongoing debate between ethicists and clinicians who favor its consideration (i.e., utility maximizers) and those who object to its use on equity grounds (i.e., equity maximizers). The assumption underlying both of these approaches is that social support is not a commodity that can be purchased in the marketplace. This essay argues for the reconceptualization of social support as a product that can-and should-be purchased for transplant candidates to render them eligible for transplant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M Appel
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bruschwein H, Chen G, Yost J. Social support and transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2022; 27:508-513. [PMID: 36103142 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Social support has many benefits for patients undergoing organ transplantation, though inclusion of it as criteria for transplant listing has been debated. This review highlights recent developments in the research regarding social support and organ transplantation, including the impact of social support on transplantation and caregivers, interventions, COVID-19, and ethical perspectives. RECENT FINDINGS Social support and perceived social support have benefits for transplant patients, including increased quality of life and adherence. The providers of social support may also be impacted and the impact may vary based on patient and caregiver characteristics, including organ group and caregiver ethnicity. Debates regarding COVID-19 vaccine requirements for caregivers and ethical concerns about the inclusion of social support as criteria for transplant listing are also explored. SUMMARY Transplant patients benefit from social support, though additional research is needed on the impact of social support on transplant outcomes and the utility of the use of social support as criteria for transplant listing. There is also a need for more robust research on diverse caregiver populations, including the identification and use of supportive interventions for caregivers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather Bruschwein
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Gloria Chen
- Abdominal Transplant Center, Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Joanna Yost
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kimberly LL, Onuh OC, Thys E, Rodriguez ED. Social support criteria in vascularized composite allotransplantation versus solid organ transplantation: Should the same ethical considerations apply? Front Psychol 2022; 13:1055503. [PMID: 36483709 PMCID: PMC9723137 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1055503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The field of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) is evolving, with some procedures poised to transition from highly experimental research toward standard of care. At present, the use of social support as an eligibility criterion for VCA candidacy is at the discretion of individual VCA programs, allowing VCA teams to consider the unique needs of each potential candidate. Yet this flexibility also creates potential for bias during the evaluation process which may disproportionately impact members of certain communities where social configurations may not resemble the model considered "optimal." We examine the extent to which ethical considerations for social support in solid organ transplantation (SOT) may be applied to or adapted for VCA, and the ethically meaningful ways in which VCA procedures differ from SOT. We conclude that VCA programs must retain some flexibility in determining criteria for candidacy at present; however, considerations of equity will become more pressing as VCA procedures evolve toward standard of care, and further empirical evidence will be needed to demonstrate the association between social support and post-operative success. The field of VCA has an opportunity to proactively address considerations of equity and justice and incorporate fair, inclusive practices into this innovative area of transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura L. Kimberly
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Medical Ethics, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ogechukwu C. Onuh
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Erika Thys
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Eduardo D. Rodriguez
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gong F, Jia Y, Zhang J, Cao M, Jia X, Sun X, Wu Y. Media use and organ donation willingness: A latent profile analysis from Chinese residents. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1000158. [PMID: 36324440 PMCID: PMC9618944 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1000158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have paid attention to media as an important channel for understanding organ donation knowledge and have not divided groups according to the degree of media use to study their differences in organ donation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the influence of media use on organ donation willingness and the influencing factors of organ donation willingness of people with different media use levels. Methods A cross-sectional study of residents from 120 cities in China was conducted by questionnaire survey. Using Mplus 8.3 software, the latent profile analysis of seven media usage related items was made, and multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the influence of varying levels of media use on organ donation willingness of different population. Results All the interviewees were divided into three groups, namely, "Occluded media use" (9.7%), "Ordinary media use" (67.1%) and "High-frequency media use" (23.2%). Compared with ordinary media use, high-frequency media population (β = 0.06, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with their willingness to accept organ donation, residents who used media occlusion (β = -0.02, P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with their willingness to accept organ donation. The influencing factors of residents' accept willingness to organ donation were different among the types of occluded media use, ordinary media use and high-frequency media use. Conclusion It is necessary to formulate personalized and targeted dissemination strategies of organ donation health information for different media users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fangmin Gong
- School of Literature and Journalism Communication, Jishou University, Jishou, China
| | - Yuhan Jia
- School of Literature and Journalism Communication, Jishou University, Jishou, China,Yuhan Jia
| | - Jinzi Zhang
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Meiling Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaocen Jia
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinying Sun
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yibo Wu
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Yibo Wu
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Shrestha P, Van Pilsum Rasmussen SE, Fazal M, Chu NM, Garonzik-Wang JM, Gordon EJ, McAdams-DeMarco M, Humbyrd CJ. Patient Perspectives on the Use of Frailty, Cognitive Function, and Age in Kidney Transplant Evaluation. AJOB Empir Bioeth 2022; 13:263-274. [PMID: 35802563 PMCID: PMC11288332 DOI: 10.1080/23294515.2022.2090460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The allocation of scarce deceased donor kidneys is a complex process. Transplant providers are increasingly relying on constructs such as frailty and cognitive function to guide kidney transplant (KT) candidate selection. Patient views of the ethical issues surrounding the use of such constructs are unclear. We sought to assess KT candidates' attitudes and beliefs about the use of frailty and cognitive function to guide waitlist selection. METHODS KT candidates were randomly recruited from an ongoing single-center cohort study of frailty and cognitive function. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis was performed. Inductively derived themes were mapped onto bioethics principles. RESULTS Twenty interviews were conducted (65% contact rate, 100% participation rate) (60% male; 70% White). With respect to the use of frailty and cognitive function in waitlisting decisions, four themes emerged in which participants: (1) valued maximizing a scarce resource (utility); (2) prioritized equal access to all patients (equity); (3) appreciated a proportional approach to the use of equity and utility (precautionary utility); and (4) sought to weigh utility- and equity-based concerns regarding social support. While some participants believed frailty and cognitive function were useful constructs to maximize utility, others believed their use would jeopardize equity. Patients were uncomfortable with using single factors such as frailty or cognitive impairment to deny someone access to transplantation; participants instead encouraged using the constructs to identify opportunities for intervention to improve frailty and cognitive function prior to KT. CONCLUSIONS KT candidates' values mirrored the current allocation strategy, seeking to balance equity and utility in a just manner, albeit with conflicting viewpoints on the appropriate use of frailty and cognitive impairment in waitlisting decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Shrestha
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Maria Fazal
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Nadia M. Chu
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Elisa J. Gordon
- Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
| | | | - Casey Jo Humbyrd
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Silverman H, Odonkor PN. Reevaluating the Ethical Issues in Porcine-to-Human Heart Xenotransplantation. Hastings Cent Rep 2022; 52:32-42. [PMID: 36226875 PMCID: PMC9828571 DOI: 10.1002/hast.1419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A major limiting factor with heart allotransplantation remains the availability of organs from deceased donors. Porcine heart xenotransplantation could serve as an alternative source of organs for patients with terminal heart failure. A first-in-human porcine xenotransplantation that occurred in January 2022 at the University of Maryland Medical Center provided an opportunity to examine several ethical issues to guide selection criteria for future xenotransplantation clinical trials. In this article, the authors, who are clinicians at UMMC, discuss the appropriate balancing of risks and benefits and the significance, if any, of clinical equipoise. The authors also review the alleged role of the psychosocial evaluation in identifying patients at an elevated risk of posttransplant noncompliance, and they consider how the evaluation's implementation might enhance inequities among diverse populations. The authors argue that, based on the principle of reciprocity, psychosocial criteria should be used, not to exclude patients, but instead to identify patients who need additional support. Finally, the authors discuss the requirements for and the proper assessment of informed and voluntary consent from patients being considered for xenotransplantation.
Collapse
|
12
|
Wadhwani SI, Lai JC, Gottlieb L. Medical Need and Transplant Accessibility-Reply. JAMA 2022; 328:679-680. [PMID: 35972489 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.10412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
|
13
|
Shrestha P, Van Pilsum Rasmussen SE, King EA, Gordon EJ, Faden RR, Segev DL, Humbyrd CJ, McAdams-DeMarco M. Defining the ethical considerations surrounding kidney transplantation for frail and cognitively impaired patients: a Delphi study of geriatric transplant experts. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:566. [PMID: 35804289 PMCID: PMC9264705 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03209-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Among adult kidney transplant (KT) candidates, 21% are frail and 55% have cognitive impairment, increasing the risk of pre- and post-KT mortality. Centers often assess frailty status and cognitive function during transplant evaluation to help identify appropriate candidate. Yet, there are no ethical guidelines regarding the use of frailty and cognitive function during this evaluation. We seek to develop a clinical consensus on balancing utility and justice in access to KT for frail and cognitively impaired patients. Methods Twenty-seven experts caring for ESRD patients completed a two-round Delphi panel designed to facilitate consensus (> 80% agreement). Results Experts believed that denying patients transplantation based solely on expected patient survival was inequitable to frail or cognitively impaired candidates; 100% agreed that frailty and cognitive impairment are important factors to consider during KT evaluation. There was consensus that health related quality of life and social support are important to consider before waitlisting frail or cognitively impaired patients. Experts identified important factors to consider before waitlisting frail (likely to benefit from KT, frailty reversibility, age, and medical contraindications) and cognitively impaired (degree of impairment and medication adherence) patients. Conclusions Clinical experts believed it was ethically unacceptable to allocate organs solely based on patients’ expected survival; frailty and cognitive impairment should be measured at evaluation when weighed against other clinical factors. Ethical guidelines regarding the use of frailty and cognitive function during KT evaluation ought to be developed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03209-x.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Shrestha
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth A King
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elisa J Gordon
- Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ruth R Faden
- Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dorry L Segev
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Casey Jo Humbyrd
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mara McAdams-DeMarco
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Surgery, New York University, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Dong Q, Wu D, Li M, Dong W. Polysaccharides, as biological macromolecule-based scaffolding biomaterials in cornea tissue engineering: A review. Tissue Cell 2022; 76:101782. [PMID: 35339801 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2022.101782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Corneal-related diseases and injuries are the leading causes of vision loss, estimated to affect over 10 million people worldwide. Currently, cadaveric corneal grafts are considered the gold standard of treatment to restore cornea-related vision. However, this treatment modality faces different challenges such as donor shortage and graft failure. Therefore, the need for alternative solutions continues to grow. Tissue engineering has dramatically progressed to produce artificial cornea implants in order to repair, regenerate, or replace the damaged cornea. In this regard, a variety of polysaccharides such as cellulose, chitosan, alginate, agarose, and hyaluronic acid have been widely explored as scaffolding biomaterials for the production of tissue-engineered cornea. These polymers are known for their excellent biocompatibility, versatile properties, and processability. Recent progress and future perspectives of polysaccharide-based biomaterials in cornea tissue engineering is reviewed here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiwei Dong
- School of medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Dingkun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Solidification Control and Digital Preparation Technology (Liaoning Province), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, China, 116024
| | - Moqiu Li
- Center for Cancer Prevention Research, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wei Dong
- School of Mathematics Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sun BZ, Wightman A, Diekema DS. Caregiver COVID-19 vaccination for solid organ transplant candidates. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:2135-2138. [PMID: 35485987 PMCID: PMC9111252 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
An increasing proportion of transplant centers have implemented a mandate for vaccination against COVID-19 for solid organ transplant candidates. There has been comparatively little exploration of the ethical considerations of mandating vaccination of a candidate's primary caregiver, despite a high risk of transmission given the close nature of contact between the candidate and caregiver. We examine how a caregiver mandate can improve overall utility in organ allocation, particularly in circumstances where vaccine effectiveness at preventing transmission and serious disease is low among recipients but high in caregivers. Our analysis reveals how sensitive such mandates must be to the evolving circumstances of disease severity, transmissibility, and vaccine effectiveness: as the facts change, the degree of benefit gained and therefore the degree of infringement on access to transplant and caregiver choice that is tolerated will likewise change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bob Z. Sun
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Aaron Wightman
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA,Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric BioethicsSeattle Children’s HospitalSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Douglas S. Diekema
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA,Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric BioethicsSeattle Children’s HospitalSeattleWashingtonUSA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
The Impact of Socio-Demographic Factors on the Functioning of Liver Transplant Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074230. [PMID: 35409911 PMCID: PMC8998949 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of socio-demographic factors and the time elapsed since liver transplantation on the functioning of patients after liver transplantation; (2) Methods: This is a survey-based prospective cohort study of 112 patients, performed using: The Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB), The Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and a questionnaire concerning sociodemographic data prepared using the Delphi method; (3) Results: Subjects under 40 years of age reported the highest social support. The longer the time since surgery, the lower the levels of adherence and support; (4) Conclusions: 1. In the study group, most support was received by women, people under 40 years of age, and those with secondary education. However, the level of social support decreased over time after the liver transplant operation. Patients who had undergone previous transplantation showed lower levels of adherence to therapeutic recommendations. 2. Patients who were in a relationship showed higher levels of illness acceptance than single ones. Women were more likely to experience depressive symptoms than men. 3. The time since liver transplantation is an important factor that affects patients' functioning. This is a time when patients need more care, social support, and assistance in maintaining adherence to therapeutic recommendations.
Collapse
|
17
|
Butler CR. A Critical Role for Shared Decision-Making about Referral and Evaluation for Kidney Transplant. KIDNEY360 2022; 3:14-16. [PMID: 35368579 PMCID: PMC8967623 DOI: 10.34067/kid.0007642021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine R. Butler
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington; Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Daniel R, Jimenez J, Pall H. Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health in Pediatric Gastroenterology. Pediatr Clin North Am 2021; 68:1147-1155. [PMID: 34736581 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Social determinants of health (SDH) as outlined by Healthy People 2020 encompasses 5 key domains: economic, education, social and community context, health and health care, and neighborhood and built environment. This article emphasizes pediatric populations and some of the existing SDH and health care disparities seen in pediatric gastroenterology. We specifically review inflammatory bowel disease, endoscopy, bariatric surgery, and liver transplantation. We also examine the burgeoning role of telehealth that has become commonplace since the coronavirus disease 2019 era.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhea Daniel
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX 70007, USA
| | - Jennifer Jimenez
- Department of Pediatrics, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, USA; Department of Pediatrics, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA
| | - Harpreet Pall
- Department of Pediatrics, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, USA; Department of Pediatrics, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Huang J, Ding S, Xiong S, Liu Z. Medication Adherence and Associated Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Structural Equation Model. Front Public Health 2021; 9:730845. [PMID: 34805063 PMCID: PMC8599446 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.730845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The number of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing. Medication treatment is of great importance to stabilize blood glucose. Previous studies have reported that neuroticism, self-efficacy, and social support are factors associated with medication adherence, but few studies have fully investigated the mechanisms between these factors and medication adherence in patients with T2D. Purpose: To explore the prevalence of medication adherence and the factors associated with medication adherence in patients with T2D. Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 483 patients with T2D was conducted from July to December 2020. Questionnaires containing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8), the neuroticism subscale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale (EPQ-RS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Diabetes Management Self-efficacy Scale (DMSES) were used to collect data. The structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. Results: This study included 305 (63.1%) medication adherence and 178 (36.9%) medication non-adherence patients with T2D. Social support directly influenced medication adherence (β = 0.115, P = 0.029) and indirectly influenced medication adherence through self-efficacy (β = 0.044, P = 0.016). Self-efficacy directly influenced medication adherence (β = 0.139, P = 0.023). Neuroticism indirectly affected medication adherence through social support (β = -0.027, P = 0.023) and self-efficacy (β = -0.019, P = 0.014). Moreover, there was a sequential mediating effect of social support and self-efficacy on the relationship between neuroticism and medication adherence (β = -0.010, P = 0.012). After controlling for age and gender, similar results were obtained. The model fit indices showed a good fit. Conclusions: The medication adherence of patients with T2D needs to be improved. Neuroticism, social support, and self-efficacy had direct or indirect effects on medication adherence in patients with T2D. Healthcare providers should comprehensively develop intervention programs based on neuroticism, social support, and self-efficacy to improve medication adherence in patients with T2D.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shenglan Ding
- Department of Nursing, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuyuan Xiong
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiping Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mohottige D, McElroy LM, Boulware LE. A Cascade of Structural Barriers Contributing to Racial Kidney Transplant Inequities. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis 2021; 28:517-527. [PMID: 35367020 PMCID: PMC11200179 DOI: 10.1053/j.ackd.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Stark racial disparities in access to and receipt of kidney transplantation, especially living donor and pre-emptive transplantation, have persisted despite decades of investigation and intervention. The causes of these disparities are complex, are inter-related, and result from a cascade of structural barriers to transplantation which disproportionately impact minoritized individuals and communities. Structural barriers contributing to racial transplant inequities have been acknowledged but are often not fully explored with regard to transplant equity. We describe longstanding racial disparities in transplantation, and we discuss contributing structural barriers which occur along the transplant pathway including pretransplant health care, evaluation, referral processes, and the evaluation of transplant candidates. We also consider the role of multilevel socio-contextual influences on these processes. We believe focused efforts which apply an equity lens to key transplant processes and systems are required to achieve greater structural competency and, ultimately, racial transplant equity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dinushika Mohottige
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; Center for Community and Population Health Improvement, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC.
| | - Lisa M McElroy
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - L Ebony Boulware
- Center for Community and Population Health Improvement, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Butler CR, Wightman AG. Scarce Health Care Resources and Equity during COVID-19: Lessons from the History of Kidney Failure Treatment. KIDNEY360 2021; 2:2024-2026. [PMID: 35419528 PMCID: PMC8986052 DOI: 10.34067/kid.0005292021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine R. Butler
- Division of Nephrology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington,Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
| | - Aaron G. Wightman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington,Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle, Washington
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Delaney SW, Essien UR, Navathe A. Disparate Impact: How Colorblind Policies Exacerbate Black-White Health Inequities. Ann Intern Med 2021; 174:1450-1451. [PMID: 34516269 DOI: 10.7326/m21-1748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Scott W Delaney
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (S.W.D.)
| | - Utibe R Essien
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (U.R.E.)
| | - Amol Navathe
- Center for Health Equity and Research Promotion, Corporal Michael J. Cresencz Philadelphia VA Medical Center, and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (A.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ramos KJ, Sykes J, Stanojevic S, Ma X, Ostrenga JS, Fink A, Quon BS, Marshall BC, Faro A, Petren K, Elbert A, Goss CH, Stephenson AL. Survival and Lung Transplant Outcomes for Individuals With Advanced Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease Living in the United States and Canada: An Analysis of National Registries. Chest 2021; 160:843-853. [PMID: 33878343 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how health outcomes differ for patients with advanced cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease living in the United States compared with Canada has health policy implications. RESEARCH QUESTION What are rates of lung transplant (LTx) and rates of death without LTx in the United States and Canada among individuals with FEV1 < 40% predicted? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS This was a retrospective population-based cohort study, 2005 to 2016, using the US CF Foundation, United Network for Organ Sharing, and Canadian CF registries. Individuals with CF and at least two FEV1 measurements < 40% predicted within a 5-year period, age ≥ 6 years, without prior LTx were included. Multivariable competing risk regression for time to death without LTx (LTx as a competing risk) and time to LTx (death as a competing risk) was performed. RESULTS There were 5,899 patients (53% male) and 905 patients (54% male) with CF with FEV1 < 40% predicted living in the United States and Canada, respectively. Multivariable competing risk regression models identified an increased risk of death without LTx (hazard ratio [HR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.52-2.1) and decreased LTx (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.58-0.74) among individuals in the United States compared with Canada. More pronounced differences were seen in the patients in the United States with Medicaid/Medicare insurance compared with Canadians (multivariable HR for death without LTx, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.89-2.64]; multivariable HR for LTx, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.47-0.61]). Patients of nonwhite race were also disadvantaged (multivariable HR for death without LTx, 1.56 [95% CI, 1.32-1.84]; multivariable HR for LTx, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.36-0.62]). INTERPRETATION There are lower rates of LTx and an increased risk of death without LTx for US patients with CF with FEV1 < 40% predicted compared with Canadian patients. Findings are more striking among US patients with CF with Medicaid/Medicare health insurance, and nonwhite patients in both countries, raising concerns about underuse of LTx among vulnerable populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen J Ramos
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
| | - Jenna Sykes
- Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sanja Stanojevic
- Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xiayi Ma
- Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Aliza Fink
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bethesda, MD
| | - Bradley S Quon
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Christopher H Goss
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Anne L Stephenson
- Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Reese PP, Mohan S, King KL, Williams WW, Potluri VS, Harhay MN, Eneanya ND. Racial disparities in preemptive waitlisting and deceased donor kidney transplantation: Ethics and solutions. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:958-967. [PMID: 33151614 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Kidney transplantation prior to dialysis, known as "preemptive transplant," enables patients to live longer and avoid the substantial quality of life burdens due to chronic dialysis. Deceased donor kidneys are a public resource that ought to provide health benefits equitably. Unfortunately, White, better educated, and privately insured patients enjoy disproportionate access to preemptive transplantation using deceased donor kidneys. This problem has persisted for decades and is exacerbated by the first-come, first-served approach to kidney allocation for predialysis patients. In this Personal Viewpoint, we describe the diverse barriers to preemptive waitlisting and kidney transplant. The analysis focuses on healthcare system features that particularly disadvantage Black patients, such as the waitlisting eligibility criterion of a single glomerular filtration rate or creatinine clearance ≤20 ml/min, and neglect of wide variation in the rate of progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in allocating preemptive transplants. We propose initiatives to improve equity including: (1) standardization of waitlisting eligibility criteria related to kidney function; (2) aggressive education for clinicians about early transplant referral; (3) innovations in electronic medical record capabilities; and (4) rapid status 7 listing by centers. If those initiatives fail, the transplant field should consider eliminating preemptive waitlisting and transplantation with deceased donor kidneys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter P Reese
- Department of Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sumit Mohan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.,Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Kristen L King
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York
| | - Winfred W Williams
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Vishnu S Potluri
- Department of Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Meera N Harhay
- Department of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Tower Health Transplant Institute, Tower Health System, West Reading, Pennsylvania
| | - Nwamaka D Eneanya
- Department of Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Butler CR, Wightman A, Richards CA, Laundry RS, Taylor JS, Hebert PL, Liu CF, O'Hare AM. Thematic Analysis of the Health Records of a National Sample of US Veterans With Advanced Kidney Disease Evaluated for Transplant. JAMA Intern Med 2021; 181:212-219. [PMID: 33226419 PMCID: PMC7684522 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.6388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE To be considered for a kidney transplant, patients with advanced kidney disease must participate in a formal evaluation and selection process. Little is known about how this process proceeds in real-world clinical settings. OBJECTIVE To characterize the transplant evaluation process among a representative national sample of US veterans with advanced kidney disease who were referred to a kidney transplant center. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This qualitative study was a thematic analysis of clinician notes in the electronic health records of US veterans referred for kidney transplant evaluation. In a random sample of 4000 patients with advanced kidney disease between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2014, cared for in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, there were 211 patients who were referred to a transplant center during the follow-up period. This group was included in the qualitative analysis and was followed up until their date of death or the end of the follow-up period on October 8, 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Dominant themes pertaining to the kidney transplant evaluation and selection process identified through thematic analysis. RESULTS Among 211 study patients, the mean (SD) age was 57.9 (9.5) years, and 202 patients (95.7%) were male. The following 4 dominant themes regarding the transplant evaluation process emerged: (1) far-reaching and inflexible medical evaluation, in which patients were expected to complete an extensive evaluation that could have substantial physical and emotional consequences, made little accommodation for their personal values and needs, and impacted other aspects of their care; (2) psychosocial valuation, in which the psychosocial component of the transplant assessment could be subjective and intrusive and could place substantial demands on patients' family members; (3) surveillance over compliance, in which the patients' ability and willingness to follow medical recommendations was an important criterion for transplant candidacy and their adherence to a wide range of recommendations and treatments was closely monitored; and (4) disempowerment and lack of transparency, in which patients and their local clinicians were often unsure about what to expect during the evaluation process or about the rationale for selection decisions. For the evaluation process to proceed, local clinicians had to follow transplant center requirements even when they believed the requirements did not align with best practices or the patients' needs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this qualitative study of US veterans with advanced kidney disease evaluated for transplant, clinician documentation in the medical record indicated that, to be considered for a kidney transplant, patients were required to participate in a rigid, demanding, and opaque evaluation and selection process over which they and their local clinicians had little control. These findings highlight the need for a more evidence-based, individualized, and collaborative approach to kidney transplant evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine R Butler
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.,Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Geriatrics and Extended Care and Seattle-Denver Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Aaron Wightman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.,Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | - Claire A Richards
- Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Geriatrics and Extended Care and Seattle-Denver Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington.,School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Ryan S Laundry
- Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Geriatrics and Extended Care and Seattle-Denver Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Janelle S Taylor
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul L Hebert
- Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Geriatrics and Extended Care and Seattle-Denver Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Health Services Research, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Chuan-Fen Liu
- Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Geriatrics and Extended Care and Seattle-Denver Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Health Services Research, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Ann M O'Hare
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.,Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Geriatrics and Extended Care and Seattle-Denver Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kimberly LL, Ramly EP, Alfonso AR, Diep GK, Berman ZP, Rodriguez ED. Equity in access to facial transplantation. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2020; 47:medethics-2020-106129. [PMID: 33060187 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We examine ethical considerations in access to facial transplantation (FT), with implications for promoting health equity. As a form of vascularised composite allotransplantation, FT is still considered innovative with a relatively low volume of procedures performed to date by a small number of active FT programmes worldwide. However, as numbers continue to increase and institutions look to establish new FT programmes, we anticipate that attention will shift from feasibility towards ensuring the benefits of FT are equitably available to those in need. This manuscript assesses barriers to care and their ethical implications across a number of considerations, with the intent of mapping various factors relating to health equity and fair access to FT. Evidence is drawn from an evolving clinical experience as well as published scholarship addressing several dimensions of access to FT. We also explore novel concerns that have yet to be mentioned in the literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Kimberly
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Medical Ethics, Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elie P Ramly
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Allyson R Alfonso
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gustave K Diep
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zoe P Berman
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eduardo D Rodriguez
- Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ahmad MU, Eves MM. The structural conundrum of parolees and kidney transplantation. Clin Transplant 2020; 34:e14104. [PMID: 32997842 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In the United States, there are a large number of incarcerated individuals, resulting in high numbers of previously incarcerated individuals out on parole undergoing reentry into society. An aging prison population translates to an older parolee population and increased incidence of kidney disease requiring either long-term dialysis or transplantation. This paper argues that due to challenges specific to the parolee population as well as societal biases and priorities, Transplant Centers and healthcare professionals face an ethical imperative to attend to the needs of parolees as a class and take steps to address challenges related to access to Centers for renal transplantation evaluation for this disadvantaged group. It will first review the regulatory context of kidney transplantation and highlight the specific ways it effects parolees. The paper will then discuss the broader social context of parolee reentry into society and barriers faced by parolees in this process. This ethical analysis examines the complexity of these issues, and deliberates on ways to balance the competing priorities of justice, respect for this patient population as individuals and as a disadvantaged class, and the societal interests regarding organ allocation and considerable economic burdens of end-stage renal disease on parolees, the justice system, and the public.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahwish U Ahmad
- Center for Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Bioethics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Margot M Eves
- Center for Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Muñoz KA, Blumenthal-Barby J, Storch EA, Torgerson L, Lázaro-Muñoz G. Pediatric Deep Brain Stimulation for Dystonia: Current State and Ethical Considerations. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2020; 29:557-573. [PMID: 32892777 PMCID: PMC9426302 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180120000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Dystonia is a movement disorder that can have a debilitating impact on motor functions and quality of life. There are 250,000 cases in the United States, most with childhood onset. Due to the limited effectiveness and side effects of available treatments, pediatric deep brain stimulation (pDBS) has emerged as an intervention for refractory dystonia. However, there is limited clinical and neuroethics research in this area of clinical practice. This paper examines whether it is ethically justified to offer pDBS to children with refractory dystonia. Given the favorable risk-benefit profile, it is concluded that offering pDBS is ethically justified for certain etiologies of dystonia, but it is less clear for others. In addition, various ethical and policy concerns are discussed, which need to be addressed to optimize the practice of offering pDBS for dystonia. Strategies are proposed to help address these concerns as pDBS continues to expand.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A. Muñoz
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | | | - Eric A. Storch
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Laura Torgerson
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Shcherbyna VY. BIOETHICS AND TECHNOLOGIES OF REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE. BIOTECHNOLOGIA ACTA 2020. [DOI: 10.15407/biotech13.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
30
|
Kelly-Hedrick M, Henderson ML. A Little Digital Help: Advancing Social Support for Transplant Patients With Technology. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:42-44. [PMID: 31647765 PMCID: PMC6818754 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
31
|
Batra RK, Rubman S. Absence of Evidence Is Not Evidence of Absence. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:29-31. [PMID: 31661403 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
32
|
Sherman M, Greenbaum D. Ethics of AI in Transplant Matching: Is It Better or Just More of the Same? THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:45-47. [PMID: 31661407 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dov Greenbaum
- Yale University and Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sharma A, Johnson LM. Should Poor Social Support Be an Exclusion Criterion in Bone Marrow Transplantation? THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:39-41. [PMID: 31661405 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
34
|
Parent B. Augment Social Support for Transplant, Do Not Penalize Its Absence. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:27-29. [PMID: 31661419 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
35
|
Wall A. The Qualitative Value of Social Support for Liver Transplantation. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:25-26. [PMID: 31647758 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anji Wall
- Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Fuller LL. Gender Equity and Social Support for Transplants. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:48-49. [PMID: 31647764 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
37
|
Beverley J, Reischer HN. Credibility Excess and Social Support Criterion. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:32-34. [PMID: 31647761 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
38
|
Goldberg AM, Foster BJ. Should Lack of Family Social Support Be a Contraindication to Pediatric Transplant? THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:37-39. [PMID: 31661418 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
39
|
McCauley RD, Fox MD. In Search of the Ideal Transplantation Candidate. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:31-32. [PMID: 31647759 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark D Fox
- Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Priest M. Social Support Is Not the Only Problematic Criterion, But If Used at All, "Lack of Social Support" Should Count in Favor of Listing, Not Against. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2019; 19:35-37. [PMID: 31661415 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2019.1665753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
|
41
|
Ladin K, Marotta SA, Butt Z, Gordon EJ, Daniels N, Lavelle TA, Hanto DW. A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Variation in Social Support Requirements and Implications for Access to Transplantation in the United States. Prog Transplant 2019; 29:344-353. [PMID: 31581889 DOI: 10.1177/1526924819874387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Social support is a key component of transplantation evaluation in the United States. Social support definitions and evaluation procedures require examination to achieve clear, consistent implementation. We surveyed psychosocial clinicians from the Society for Transplant Social Workers and American Society of Transplant Surgeons about their definitions and evaluation procedures for using social support to determine transplant eligibility. Bivariate statistical analysis was used for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data. Among 276 psychosocial clinicians (50.2% response rate), 92% had ruled out patients from transplantation due to inadequate support. Social support definitions varied significantly: 10% of respondents indicated their center lacked a definition. Key domains of social support included informational, emotional, instrumental, motivational, paid support, and the patient's importance to others. Almost half of clinicians (47%) rarely or never requested second opinions when excluding patients due to social support. Confidence and perceived clarity and consistency in center guidelines were significantly associated with informing patients when support contributed to negative wait-listing decisions (P = .001). Clinicians who excluded fewer patients because of social support offered significantly more supportive health care (P = .02). Clearer definitions and more supportive care may reduce the number of patients excluded from transplant candidacy due to inadequate social support.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keren Ladin
- Department of Occupational Therapy and Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.,Research on Ethics, Aging, and Community Health (REACH Lab), Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Satia A Marotta
- Research on Ethics, Aging, and Community Health (REACH Lab), Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Zeeshan Butt
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elisa J Gordon
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Center for Healthcare Studies and Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Norman Daniels
- Department of Global Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tara A Lavelle
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas W Hanto
- VA St Louis Health Care System, St Louis, MO, USA.,Vanderbilt Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|