Grant: Operating Grant

"Transplant Tourism" is the practice of traveling to another country to illegally purchase an organ for transplantation. Despite the fact that transplant tourism is illegal and has been widely denounced by the World Health Organization, increasing numbers of Canadians who need a kidney transplant have opted for transplant tourism in recent years. Multiple reports have described the exploitation of the poor and the serious medical risks that are associated with transplant tourism, including a higher risk of serious infections among patients that come back after buying a kidney abroad, highlighting that this is a dangerous practice for everyone involved. Currently, there is little known about who is likely to consider transplant tourism and what factors drive this practice. This study aims to better understand what factors will identify Canadians at risk for considering transplant tourism, what their understanding is regarding the risks and benefits of this practice, and what barriers they perceive to limit them from pursuing living donor transplantation locally. We plan to survey British Columbians with kidney failure about their level of interest in transplant tourism, their level of interest in purusing a living donor transplant locally, their understanding of the pros and cons of transplant tourism and their perceived barriers to pursuing transplantation locally. Specifically we hope to understand what types of patients are more likely to consider transplant tourism, whether these patients understand the potential risks associated with this practice, whether they understand the options for transplantation locally and what has prevented them from pursuing these options locally. Also, we will understand what types of strategies may be helpful in increasing the ability of patients to get transplanted locally and to deter them from opting for transplant tourism.