Jeannie Devitt|Alan Cass|Joan Cunningham|Cilla Preece|Kate Anderson|Paul Snelling
Study Protocol – Improving Access to Kidney Transplants (IMPAKT): A detailed account of a qualitative study investigating barriers to transplant for Australian Indigenous people with end-stage kidney disease
The George Institute for Global Health|The George Institute for Global Health|Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|The George Institute for Global Health|Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
indigenous australians slightly 2 total australian population however recent years comprised 6 10 new patients beginning treatment endstage kidney disease eskd although transplant considered optimal form treatment many eskd patients pronounced disparity rates indigenous eskd patients receive transplants compared nonindigenous counterparts impakt improving access kidney transplants interview study investigated reasons disparity large scale indepth interview study involving patients nephrologists key decisionmaking staff selected australian transplant dialysis sites design conduct study reflected multidisciplinary membership core impakt team promoting participatory ethos impakt established partnerships network hospital transplant units hospital dialysis treatment centres provide treatment vast majority indigenous patients across australia auspices impakt team conducted indepth interviews 26 treatmentservice centres located metropolitan regional remote australia peer interviewing supported engagement indigenous patients 146 nephrologists 19 total impakt spoke indigenous nonindigenous patients 241 key renal nursing nonspecialist staff 95 small number relevant others 28 data analysis supported qsr software site impakt also documented educational programs resources mapped hypothetical patient journey transplant local system observed patient care treatment routines national scope interdisciplinary approach use qualitative methods investigation significant health inequality affecting indigenous people believe australian first exceptionally large cohort indigenous participants provided evaluative comment health services relation dialysis transplant additionally data includes extensive parallel commentary cohort specialists nurses staff study considers patient journey transplant within diverse range australian treatment centreworkplace settings impakt interview study protocol may contribute improvements multidisciplinary flexible design health services research hard reach vulnerable populations australia elsewhere