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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0PLOS One

Attitudes, perceptions, behaviours, and concerns of patients listed for kidney transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Nimet Aktas1
  • Alparslan Ersoy2
  • Aysegul Oruc3
  • Hatice Ortac
  1. 1Department of Nephrology, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkiye
  2. 2Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkiye
  3. 3Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Health Sciences, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkiye
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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions in solid organ transplantation worldwide, particularly in kidney transplantation. Patients on deceased-donor kidney transplant waiting lists represent a vulnerable population due to ongoing dialysis requirements and concerns regarding immunosuppression and infection risk. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes, behaviors, and concerns of patients on the deceased-donor kidney transplant waiting list regarding kidney transplantation during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional, telephone-based survey was conducted between October and December 2020 at one tertiary care centre in Turkiye. The survey assessed adherence to preventive measures, COVID-19 exposure history, perceptions of renal replacement therapy modalities, attitudes toward kidney transplantation, and transplantation-related concerns during the pandemic. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and responses were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 188 transplant candidates (mean age 47.3 ± 13.1 years; 56.4% male) were included. Adherence to preventive measures was reported by 99.5% of participants, and 80.9% followed quarantine rules. Although 76% of participants preferred kidney transplantation before the pandemic, this rate decreased to 55.3% during the pandemic. Despite this decline, 86.7% of participants stated that they would accept a deceased-donor kidney transplant if offered during the pandemic. Only 38.3% reported concerns about undergoing transplantation, with the most common concerns being infection risk related to immunosuppressive therapy, hospital-acquired COVID-19, and donor-related transmission. Shorter renal replacement therapy duration and preemptive transplant status were associated with more favorable attitudes toward transplantation during the pandemic. Conclusions: Despite pandemic-related uncertainties and concerns, most patients on the deceased-donor kidney transplant waiting list demonstrated a willingness to proceed with kidney transplantation and showed high adherence to preventive measures. These findings highlight the importance of patient education, infection-control strategies, and transparent communication to ensure the sustainability of kidney transplant programs during current and future pandemics.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{aktas2026attitudes,
  title = {{Attitudes, perceptions, behaviours, and concerns of patients listed for kidney transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic}},
  author = {Nimet Aktas and Alparslan Ersoy and Aysegul Oruc and Hatice Ortac},
  journal = {PLOS One},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0358328},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358328},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Attitudes, perceptions, behaviours, and concerns of patients listed for kidney transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU  - Nimet Aktas
AU  - Alparslan Ersoy
AU  - Aysegul Oruc
AU  - Hatice Ortac
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/15
JO  - PLOS One
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pone.0358328
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358328
AB  - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions in solid organ transplantation worldwide, particularly in kidney transplantation. Patients on deceased-donor kidney transplant waiting lists represent a vulnerable population due to ongoing dialysis requirements and concerns regarding immunosuppression and infection risk. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes, behaviors, and concerns of patients on the deceased-donor kidney transplant waiting list regarding kidney transplantation during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional, telephone-based survey was conducted between October and December 2020 at one tertiary care centre in Turkiye. The survey assessed adherence to preventive measures, COVID-19 exposure history, perceptions of renal replacement therapy modalities, attitudes toward kidney transplantation, and transplantation-related concerns during the pandemic. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and responses were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 188 transplant candidates (mean age 47.3 ± 13.1 years; 56.4% male) were included. Adherence to preventive measures was reported by 99.5% of participants, and 80.9% followed quarantine rules. Although 76% of participants preferred kidney transplantation before the pandemic, this rate decreased to 55.3% during the pandemic. Despite this decline, 86.7% of participants stated that they would accept a deceased-donor kidney transplant if offered during the pandemic. Only 38.3% reported concerns about undergoing transplantation, with the most common concerns being infection risk related to immunosuppressive therapy, hospital-acquired COVID-19, and donor-related transmission. Shorter renal replacement therapy duration and preemptive transplant status were associated with more favorable attitudes toward transplantation during the pandemic. Conclusions: Despite pandemic-related uncertainties and concerns, most patients on the deceased-donor kidney transplant waiting list demonstrated a willingness to proceed with kidney transplantation and showed high adherence to preventive measures. These findings highlight the importance of patient education, infection-control strategies, and transparent communication to ensure the sustainability of kidney transplant programs during current and future pandemics.
SN  - 1932-6203
ER  -