Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language Summary
Rationale & Objective: Noncitizen, undocumented patients with kidney failure have few treatment options in many states, although Illinois allows for patients to receive a transplant regardless of citizenship status. Little information exists about the experiences of noncitizen patients pursu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Kidney Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590059523000547 |
| _version_ | 1797824518855589888 |
|---|---|
| author | Yumiko I. Gely Maritza Esqueda-Medina Tricia J. Johnson Melissa L. Arias-Pelayo Nancy A. Cortes Zeynep Isgor Elizabeth B. Lynch Brittney S. Lange-Maia |
| author_facet | Yumiko I. Gely Maritza Esqueda-Medina Tricia J. Johnson Melissa L. Arias-Pelayo Nancy A. Cortes Zeynep Isgor Elizabeth B. Lynch Brittney S. Lange-Maia |
| author_sort | Yumiko I. Gely |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rationale & Objective: Noncitizen, undocumented patients with kidney failure have few treatment options in many states, although Illinois allows for patients to receive a transplant regardless of citizenship status. Little information exists about the experiences of noncitizen patients pursuing kidney transplantation. We sought to understand how access to kidney transplantation affects patients, their family, health care providers, and the health care system. Study Design: A qualitative study with virtually conducted semistructured interviews. Setting & Participants: Participants were transplant and immigration stakeholders (physicians, transplant center and community outreach professionals), and patients who have received assistance through the Illinois Transplant Fund (listed for or received transplant; patients could complete the interview with a family member). Analytical Approach: Interview transcripts were coded using open coding and were analyzed using thematic analysis methods with an inductive approach. Results: We interviewed 36 participants: 13 stakeholders (5 physicians, 4 community outreach stakeholders, and 4 transplant center professionals), 16 patients, and 7 partners. The following seven themes were identified: (1) devastation from kidney failure diagnosis, (2) resource needs for care, (3) communication barriers to care, (4) importance of culturally competent health care providers, (5) negative impacts of policy gaps, (6) new chance at life after transplant, and (7) recommendations for improving care. Limitations: The patients we interviewed were not representative of noncitizen patients with kidney failure overall or in other states. The stakeholders were also not representative of health care providers because they were generally well informed on kidney failure and immigration issues. Conclusions: Although patients in Illinois can access kidney transplants regardless of citizenship status, access barriers, and health care policy gaps continue to negatively affect patients, families, health care professionals, and the health care system. Necessary changes for promoting equitable care include comprehensive policies to increase access, diversifying the health care workforce, and improving communication with patients. These solutions would benefit patients with kidney failure regardless of citizenship. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:40:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-850aa2c98b96409d9294e01381cf6719 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-0595 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:40:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Kidney Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-850aa2c98b96409d9294e01381cf67192023-05-18T04:40:11ZengElsevierKidney Medicine2590-05952023-06-0156100644Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language SummaryYumiko I. Gely0Maritza Esqueda-Medina1Tricia J. Johnson2Melissa L. Arias-Pelayo3Nancy A. Cortes4Zeynep Isgor5Elizabeth B. Lynch6Brittney S. Lange-Maia7Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILDepartment of Family and Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILDepartment of Health Systems Management, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILRush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILRush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILDepartment of Health Systems Management, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILDepartment of Family and Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILDepartment of Family and Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Address for correspondence: Brittney S. Lange-Maia, PhD, MPH, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W Harrison St, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60612.Rationale & Objective: Noncitizen, undocumented patients with kidney failure have few treatment options in many states, although Illinois allows for patients to receive a transplant regardless of citizenship status. Little information exists about the experiences of noncitizen patients pursuing kidney transplantation. We sought to understand how access to kidney transplantation affects patients, their family, health care providers, and the health care system. Study Design: A qualitative study with virtually conducted semistructured interviews. Setting & Participants: Participants were transplant and immigration stakeholders (physicians, transplant center and community outreach professionals), and patients who have received assistance through the Illinois Transplant Fund (listed for or received transplant; patients could complete the interview with a family member). Analytical Approach: Interview transcripts were coded using open coding and were analyzed using thematic analysis methods with an inductive approach. Results: We interviewed 36 participants: 13 stakeholders (5 physicians, 4 community outreach stakeholders, and 4 transplant center professionals), 16 patients, and 7 partners. The following seven themes were identified: (1) devastation from kidney failure diagnosis, (2) resource needs for care, (3) communication barriers to care, (4) importance of culturally competent health care providers, (5) negative impacts of policy gaps, (6) new chance at life after transplant, and (7) recommendations for improving care. Limitations: The patients we interviewed were not representative of noncitizen patients with kidney failure overall or in other states. The stakeholders were also not representative of health care providers because they were generally well informed on kidney failure and immigration issues. Conclusions: Although patients in Illinois can access kidney transplants regardless of citizenship status, access barriers, and health care policy gaps continue to negatively affect patients, families, health care professionals, and the health care system. Necessary changes for promoting equitable care include comprehensive policies to increase access, diversifying the health care workforce, and improving communication with patients. These solutions would benefit patients with kidney failure regardless of citizenship.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590059523000547Kidney transplantundocumented immigrantsend-stage kidney diseasekidney failurequalitative studyhealth inequity |
| spellingShingle | Yumiko I. Gely Maritza Esqueda-Medina Tricia J. Johnson Melissa L. Arias-Pelayo Nancy A. Cortes Zeynep Isgor Elizabeth B. Lynch Brittney S. Lange-Maia Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language Summary Kidney Medicine Kidney transplant undocumented immigrants end-stage kidney disease kidney failure qualitative study health inequity |
| title | Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language Summary |
| title_full | Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language Summary |
| title_fullStr | Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language Summary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language Summary |
| title_short | Experiences With Kidney Transplant Among Undocumented Immigrants in Illinois: A Qualitative StudyPlain-Language Summary |
| title_sort | experiences with kidney transplant among undocumented immigrants in illinois a qualitative studyplain language summary |
| topic | Kidney transplant undocumented immigrants end-stage kidney disease kidney failure qualitative study health inequity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590059523000547 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yumikoigely experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary AT maritzaesquedamedina experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary AT triciajjohnson experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary AT melissalariaspelayo experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary AT nancyacortes experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary AT zeynepisgor experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary AT elizabethblynch experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary AT brittneyslangemaia experienceswithkidneytransplantamongundocumentedimmigrantsinillinoisaqualitativestudyplainlanguagesummary |