August 28, 2025

Study sheds light on what kidney transplant recipients want to know

Kidney transplant recipients are eager to learn how to protect their new organ and adjust to life after surgery. A new study explores what information matters most to them in the months following a transplant—and a year later. While the results show that learning needs do not shift substantially over time, recipients stress the value of ongoing, personalized education and access to a multidisciplinary care team. 

Between September 2019 and March 2021, researcher Michelle L. Gabriel and her colleagues at the Kidney Transplant Program at St. Michael’s Hospital interviewed 20 kidney transplant recipients based in Toronto to learn about how their educational needs evolve over time. Participants discussed what mattered most to them in the early postoperative period and one year after transplant. 

The findings show that specific needs can differ by age and other demographic factors, highlighting the need for personalized education for each patient. Most topics covered in the early months post-transplant—such as rejection and infection—remain important to patients a year later, suggesting the need for ongoing education post-transplant. Some interests shift over time: for example, participants were less interested in education on alcohol consumption a year later, while interest in dental health grew. 

A key theme across many interviews was the importance of having access to a trusted, multidisciplinary health care team, including professionals such as dietitians, social workers, and pharmacists. The study underscores the importance of personalized and ongoing education for transplant recipients