Health Care Professionals

Information for the Health Care Professional

Despite the availability of well-developed patient literature, a recent survey of Canadian transplant patients revealed that their information needs and concerns are not being met. Patients want an opportunity to talk to those who have undergone a kidney transplant. They want to talk with others who, like them, are waiting for a kidney transplant, to openly share their feelings and fears and to ask questions in a relaxed environment.

While most Canadian transplant centres offer counselling services and patient support material, Transplant Companions goes a few steps further in bridging the information gap. The program can be used as an adjunct to an existing program through its innovative learning modules or provide an easy, comprehensive, multimedia patient education program.

Workshop Objectives:

• To inform patients about all stages of a kidney transplant
• To create an environment that fosters information sharing
• To help patients and their famillies understand the implications of the transplant process
• To make participants feel confident to express their opinions
• To arm participants with the confidence to ask their transplant team questions
• To empower patients in the management of their own health
• To promote dialogue

The special approach of the Transplant Companions program can be found in the small, interactive workshops led by a trained facilitator, along with someone who has already gone through a kidney transplant and who has first-hand experience in coping with the life changes after surgery.

During the interactive workshops, a kidney recipient is invited to share his or her own experience for about 10 minutes. Then a health care facilitator gives a 45 minute presentation on kidney transplantation. The last hour is reserved for questions from pre-transplant patients. The facilitator's role is to present the material and facilitate the meeting so that participants feel comfortable asking questions that are important to them.

Transplant Companions' facilitators will be required to assist in helping organize two-hour workshops within their organization. To support these efforts, the Transplant Companions program will:

• Provide the necessary training to become an effective facilitator
• Provide materials needed to recruit patients (posters, brochures, info-line)
• Provide materials needed for the patients attending the workshops
• Provide audio-visual equipment (if required)

Interested in getting more information on the Transplant Companions Program and how to enroll your centre? Contact us today.