Using the Donor App and Social Media to Find Living Organ Donors for Kidney or Liver Transplant Candidates

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to help patients waiting for organ transplants by using a web-based application to improve communication about their need for a living donor through social media. Many transplant candidates face challenges like lack of education and reluctance to discuss their illness, which makes finding a live donor difficult. The study explores whether spreading awareness through social media can help candidates successfully find living donors. Participants will use a novel web-based tool called the Donor App to share their personal transplant stories on platforms like Facebook and other social networks. Select physicians and research staff at about 15 transplant hospitals will offer the app to patients who might benefit. After consent, patients receive a secure invitation link to access the app and use it indefinitely. Throughout the study, researchers will monitor how many potential donors are identified and how many live donor transplants occur over up to five years. They will also track app usage by measuring story completion and sharing activity. The study involves ongoing evaluation of the apps implementation and participant engagement, supporting patients through their transplant journey.

Dissemination of the Donor Application: Utilizing Social Media to Identify Potential Live Organ Donors