Attitudes and knowledge about transplantation in dialyzed patients requesting a cadaveric kidney graft

Aim: Eighty-two patients answered a multiple choice questionnaire aimed at identifying their presumed and actual knowledge regarding transplantation, given immediately before evaluation by our transplant team for inclusion on our kidney transplant waiting list. Subjects, methods and results: A total of 78% stated that they had no or incomplete knowledge of transplantation and 22% were very well informed. The mean score for technical knowledge of transplantation (duration, requirement for removal of native kidneys, possi bility of obtaining a second transplant, duration of immunosuppressive ther apy and duration of the risk of rejection) was 3.1 +/- 0.15 SEM (maximal po ssible score 5), that for risk knowledge (risks of infections. unpleasant s ide effects, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, viral infections and cancer) was 1.4 +/- 0.15 (maximal possible score 6). A total of 23% knew that the s pouse could donate a kidney, 74% stated that only a blood relative could an d 3% that living donation was impossible. Conclusions: There is scarce know ledge about transplantation, especially with regard to the risks and living donation.