The Multidisciplinary Support To Access living donor Kidney Transplant (MuST AKT) intervention: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

TL;DR

A new intervention called MuST AKT helps kidney transplant candidates and their social networks overcome barriers to living donor transplants, showing it is feasible and well-accepted.

Contribution

The MuST AKT intervention introduces a multidisciplinary approach to increase living donor kidney transplants through structured sessions with patients and their social networks.

Findings

The MuST AKT intervention had high session completion rates and was delivered faster than expected.

Participants reported increased confidence in discussing living donor kidney transplants after the intervention.

All participants recommended the intervention to peers, indicating strong acceptability.

Abstract

We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of the Multidisciplinary Support To Access living donor Kidney Transplant (MuST AKT) intervention, developed to increase living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT). In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned transplant candidates to receive standard care or the MuST AKT intervention, where transplant candidates and their social network addressed barriers to LDKT across four 60–90-minute sessions. Feasibility was assessed by consent/recruitment, retention, study protocol adherence, intervention adherence, and intervention engagement. Acceptability was assessed by questionnaire and post-intervention interviews. The recruitment rate was 61% (43/71), with 38 participants randomized 1:1. Among intervention participants, 1 was excluded for not meeting study criteria prior to start. Among those that started (18), 100% completed 1 session, 94% completed 2 sessions, 83% completed 3 sessions, and 56% completed all 4 sessions. The intervention was delivered in 71 days (mean), shorter than anticipated. The intervention participants reported increased confidence for communicating about LDKT from pre-to post-intervention, and all recommended MuST AKT to their peers. Intervention participants and invitees from their social network described a positive experience and provided recommendations for improvement. The MuST AKT intervention is feasible with minor modifications and acceptable to transplant candidates and their social network.

Graphic outlining the MuST AKT intervention trial for kidney transplantation. Methods include a single- center study in Canada with 38 participants, mean age 50. The intervention involved sessions on storytelling, social networking, overcoming barriers to kidney transplant, advocacy, and information for friends and family. Results show session completion rates: Session 1 at 100%, Session 2 at 94%, Session 3 at 83%, and Session 4 at 56%. All participants recommended MuST AKT. Participant self-efficacy increased, illustrated by a bar chart showing significant improvement from start to end with p-value of 0.004. Study duration was twelve to fourteen weeks. Publication details: Selzler et al.,Transplant International, 2026. DOI link provided.

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