Implementing culturally competent transplant care and implications for reducing health disparities: A prospective qualitative study

Elisa J. Gordon*, Elida Romo, Daniela Amórtegui, Alejandra Rodas, Naomi Anderson, Jefferson Uriarte, Gwen McNatt, Juan Carlos Caicedo, Daniela P. Ladner, Michelle Shumate

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Despite available evidence-based interventions that decrease health disparities, these interventions are often not implemented. Northwestern Medicine's® Hispanic Kidney Transplant Program (HKTP) is a culturally and linguistically competent intervention designed to reduce disparities in living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) among Hispanics/Latinos. The HKTP was introduced in two transplant programs in 2016 to evaluate its effectiveness. Objective: This study assessed barriers and facilitators to HKTP implementation preparation. Methods: Interviews and group discussions were conducted with transplant stakeholders (ie administrators, nurses, physicians) during implementation preparation. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided interview design and qualitative analysis. Results: Forty-four stakeholders participated in 24 interviews and/or 27 group discussions. New factors, not found in previous implementation preparation research in health-care settings, emerged as facilitators and barriers to the implementation of culturally competent care. Implementation facilitators included: stakeholders’ focus on a moral imperative to implement the HKTP, personal motivations related to their Hispanic heritage, and perceptions of Hispanic patients’ transplant education needs. Implementation barriers included: stakeholders’ perceptions that Hispanics’ health insurance payer mix would negatively impact revenue, a lack of knowledge about LDKT disparities and patient data disaggregated by ethnicity/race, and a perception that the family discussion component was immoral because of the possibility of coercion. Discussion and Conclusions: Our study identified novel barriers and facilitators to the implementation preparation of a culturally competent care intervention. Healthcare administrators can facilitate organizations’ implementation of culturally competent care interventions by understanding factors challenging care delivery processes and raising clinical team awareness of disparities in LDKT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1450-1465
Number of pages16
JournalHealth Expectations
Volume23
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

Funding

A study limitation is that participants’ statements or perceptions may not reflect actual behaviours. Although our results may be transferrable to academic, non‐profit hospitals, results may differ in community hospitals and/or hospitals in other US geographic regions. Study findings may reflect US experiences in implementing culturally competent care interventions highlighted by its market‐based system that may not arise in countries with a single payer system. A social desirability bias may have softened stakeholders’ concerns because grant funding supported HKTP implementation. We used measures to control for social bias including informing participants that their input would be analysed in aggregate and contribute to a better understanding of how to implement the HKTP and deliver culturally sensitive care for Hispanic patients in the future. Perceived barriers may not have prevented implementation.

Keywords

  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • consolidated framework for implementation research
  • health disparities
  • healthcare administrator
  • implementation science
  • living kidney donation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Implementing culturally competent transplant care and implications for reducing health disparities: A prospective qualitative study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this