Abstract
Background: Few quantitative assessments have assessed disaster preparation in kidney transplant patients. This is a survey-based assessment of disaster preparedness of 200 patients at the University of California San Francisco, USA. Materials and methods: Patients answered questionnaires assessing their level of preparedness as well as barriers to preparation. Preparedness was scored based on response to 7 questions. Univariate analyses compared participant characteristics extracted from the medical chart against three tertiles of preparedness: low (scores 0 – 2), medium (scores 3 – 4), and high (scores 5 – 7). California counties were coded and mapped by average preparedness scores. Results: Only 30% of patients were highly prepared for disasters. Participants were prepared with available medication for 2 weeks (78.5%) and least prepared in having a medical ID bracelet (13%). Significant minorities of patients (40% of patients or more) were unprepared with lists of medications, important phone numbers and disaster kits. Preparedness was not associated with demographic and clinical characteristics. Monterey County was the most prepared of the 31 California counties sampled (score of 4.25 out of 7). Conclusion: All patients should be educated regarding disaster preparation. County and medical services should collaborate to address specialized populations in general preparedness planning.
Highlights
Participants were prepared with available medication for 2 weeks (78.5%) and least prepared in having a medical ID bracelet (13%)
In a single-center study conducted at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), we evaluated the emergency preparedness of a cohort of 200 participants recruited from the kidney transplant clinic to answer some of these questions
Guidelines published by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) informed the content of the questionnaire, in particular the sections within the NKF handbook devoted to transplant patients [7, 8]
Summary
In the decade since Hurricane Katrina, due to the large numbers of dialysis-related morbidity and mortality in that event, there has been increasing attention on the topic of disaster preparation in those with kidney disease and other vulnerable populations [1] National organizations such as Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition set-up in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other dialysis providers including Davita and Fresenius, have been actively involved with regulating and mandating evaluations and response capacity in dialysis providers in the setting of a disaster [2]. In a single-center study conducted at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), we evaluated the emergency preparedness of a cohort of 200 participants recruited from the kidney transplant clinic to answer some of these questions
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