Cultural factors related to race differences in preference for living donor kidney transplantation

Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) is the optimum treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In the United States, African Americans (AAs) are less than half as likely to be referred for or undergo LDKT as white patients. This study examined how cultural factors (perceptions of discrimination and racism, medical mistrust) and transplant knowledge are related to race differences in transplant preference. Questionnaires were completed by 36 patients awaiting kidney transplantation. Results indicated that AA patients in this sample had less transplant knowledge than white patients. AAs reported more experiences of discrimination and perceived more racism in health-care settings than whites. AA and white patients did not differ on medical mistrust. Patients who experienced more discrimination in health-care settings were less willing to ask someone to be a living donor for them. Results indicate that previous experience of discrimination may contribute to race disparities in kidney transplantation.