The structured interview for renal transplantation - SIRT

Despite the fact that the demand for psychiatric evaluations of organ trans plant recipients is increasing there is not a commonly agreed upon protocol that can guide clinicians. A standard psychiatric interview, although nece ssary, is not sufficient when interviewing transplant candidates. In additi on, it is important to acquire information specific to the medical regimen associated with renal disease and renal transplantation. The purpose of thi s paper is to present the Structured Interview for Renal Transplantation (S IRT). The SIRT was developed as a tool to guide Clinicians through the inte rview process by providing a comprehensive structure while still allowing f or flexibility. There are many advantages of using the SIRT - it is a tool that facilitates a clinician's ability to conduct a thorough examination in a time-efficient manner. It is also an excellent instrument for training c linicians, and the structure of the interview is appropriate for use in res earch.