Telemedicine for Living Kidney Donation

Overseen By Simeon Adeyemo, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Irvine

Disqualifiers: Heart disease, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

70 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether telemedicine (remote healthcare via video calls) can effectively educate and support individuals considering kidney donation. The study compares traditional in-person visits with video sessions to determine which method better assists potential donors in making informed decisions. Participants will either undergo a standard in-person evaluation or receive video sessions with healthcare providers using Telemedicine Shared Decision-Making. Individuals residing in California and registered as living kidney donor candidates at UC Irvine Medical Center may be suitable for this trial. As an unphased study, this trial provides participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance the donor experience for many.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that telemedicine is safe for living kidney donation education and evaluation?

Research has shown that telemedicine is generally safe and well-liked by patients. Studies have found that people using telemedicine for kidney care, including those considering donating a kidney, often report satisfaction with the results. Their outcomes are similar to those who see their doctors in person.

Additionally, telemedicine helps kidney transplant patients adhere to their medication regimens and reduces their need for hospital visits. This indicates that it is not only safe but also effective for medical care.

Overall, evidence suggests that telemedicine is a safe and practical way to support individuals considering kidney donation. It provides a convenient way to receive information and advice without needing to visit a doctor in person. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Telemedicine Shared Decision-Making approach for living kidney donation because it utilizes telemedicine to enhance accessibility and convenience for potential donors. Unlike the traditional method, which typically requires in-person visits, this approach offers live video sessions, reducing travel and time commitments. By providing virtual education and counseling sessions with transplant providers and nephrologists, this method could potentially make the donation process more efficient and less daunting, encouraging more people to consider living kidney donation.

What evidence suggests that telemedicine is effective for living kidney donation?

This trial will compare telemedicine with standard care for living kidney donation. Research has shown that telemedicine holds promise for kidney transplants. Studies have found that telemedicine helps patients take their medications correctly, reduces the need for hospital visits, and provides better follow-up care for kidney transplant patients. Patients often feel satisfied with telemedicine, which offers results similar to in-person visits. It also makes accessing healthcare services easier. These findings suggest telemedicine could help potential kidney donors make informed choices and stay involved in the process. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Fawaz Al Ammary, MD PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, Irvine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy individuals considering becoming living kidney donors. It's designed to see if telemedicine can help with their education, evaluation, and counseling process. Participants must meet certain health criteria but specific inclusion and exclusion details are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Reside in the State of California

Registered living kidney donor candidate at UC Irvine Medical Center

I am 18 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

I cannot donate a kidney due to my existing health condition like heart disease or cancer.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Education and Evaluation

Participants receive either standard care with a recorded video and in-person evaluation or telemedicine sessions for education and evaluation

90 days

1 in-person visit or 2 telemedicine sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention and decision-making outcomes

90 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Telemedicine Shared Decision-Making

Trial Overview The study is testing whether using telemedicine for shared decision-making is a practical alternative to standard care during the donor evaluation process. It aims to improve engagement and decisions of potential donors by comparing traditional methods with video visits.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Telemedicine Group (Intervention) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the telemedicine group will receive two live telemedicine video sessions: one education session with a transplant provider and one donor evaluation and counseling session with a nephrologist.

Group II: Standard Care Group (Control) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the standard care group will receive a recorded video education session and one in-person donor evaluation and counseling session with a nephrologist.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Irvine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

580

Recruited

4,943,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8597544/

Telehealth Use by Living Kidney Donor Transplant ... Telehealth usage in the transplant population improves medication adherence, reduces hospitalization rates for recipients, and makes living ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07206069

Telemedicine to Support Living Kidney Donor Candidates Generated preliminary data will inform larger trials and ultimately guide transplant practice and policy to improve decision-making, efficiency, and access to ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024924017170

Donor Perceptions and Preferences of Telemedicine and ... In primary care studies, telemedicine video visits have achieved high levels of patient satisfaction and similar outcomes compared to in-person visits.17, 18, ...

4. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/transplantjournal/fulltext/2024/02000/telemedicine_for_kidney_transplant_recipients_.20.aspx

Telemedicine for Kidney Transplant Recipients: Current State This review discusses the current state and benefits of telemedicine in kidney transplantation, with the aforementioned barriers, and provides an overview of ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8989024/

The Scope of Telemedicine in Kidney Transplantation Telemedicine has the potential to increase access to transplant centers and ensure post-transplant continuity of care.

6. amjtransplant.org amjtransplant.org/article/S1600-6135(25)01941-0/fulltext

Telemedicine for Living Kidney Donation: Provider Focus ... Telemedicine can help streamline and expedite donor evaluation process. We aimed to deeply understand provider experiences and preferences using hybrid ...