A note on a discussion group study of public preferences regarding priorities in the allocation of donor kidneys

Dolan, P. and Shaw, R. (2004) A note on a discussion group study of public preferences regarding priorities in the allocation of donor kidneys. Health Policy, 68(1), pp. 31-36. (doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2003.07.006)

Abstract

<i>Objective</i>: To explore whether and how people wish to give differential priority based on certain characteristics of the potential recipient of a donor kidney. Design: A random sample of people resident in York was invited to attend two focus group meetings each, a fortnight apart. <i>Setting</i>: The City of York. <i>Participants</i>: Twenty-three randomly chosen people meeting in four groups of five or six. <i>Main outcome measures</i>: Those factors that people think should be taken into account when allocating donor kidneys, in addition to the expected benefits from transplantation. <i>Results</i>: People are willing and able to distinguish between potential recipients of a kidney transplantation according to a range of characteristics beyond the expected benefits from treatment. There is a clear consensus across the four groups that one of the most important considerations is what will happen to the patient without treatment, and so priority is given to those with a poor prognosis. There is also a strong view that priority should be given to younger patients and to those with dependants. The time spent waiting for a transplant is also important, but less so. <i>Conclusions</i>: A sample of the general public, after discussion and debate, wish to take account of a number of patient characteristics when allocating donor kidneys. There is some degree of consensus about what these factors should be and this suggests that it might be possible to develop a set of guidelines for the allocation of donor kidneys.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Kidney transplantation; Graft allocation; Public preferences; Focus groups
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Shaw, Dr Rebecca
• Authors: Dolan, P., and Shaw, R.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine; R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment
• Journal Name: Health Policy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0168-8510
• ISSN (Online): 1872-6054
• Published Online: 06 November 2003
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2004 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Health Policy 68(1):31-36
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher