Explore Transplant Ontario

The Explore Transplant Ontario (ETO) project is our province-wide initiative to educate patients about kidney transplantation options. It is part of the multi-faceted, provincial Access to Kidney Transplantation (AKT) initiative, which is organized by the Ontario Renal Network and the Trillium Gift of Life Network. A special focus of it is on delivering culturally competent information to reduce barriers to kidney transplantation and to safely increase living donor kidney transplantation in Ontario. This information will be introduced as educational materials through our ETO project.

Why is this project important?

Our pilot study demonstrated that a well-developed education package for patients with advanced kidney disease significantly improved their knowledge of kidney transplantation options and their ability to make informed treatment decisions. By providing the ETO education package, which includes print materials about transplants and video series featuring transplant experts, we work to help patients become able to make informed decisions about treatments.

How are we carrying out this project?

We are implementing education in two directions: education for patients and education for professionals. Our patient education consists of a package delivered directly to patients through their healthcare provider, which is complemented by a webinar series for providers.

Patient Education

The Explore Transplant Ontario package and other educational materials are being introduced to the province’s renal programs as part of a two-phase, staggered trial. As of October 2017, the first 13 of Ontario’s 26 regional renal care programs have begun to receive this education portfolio, and the remaining 13 centres will be added in 2019. This staggered delivery will enable us to better measure the impact of this enhanced education on transplant referral and evaluation rates in Ontario.

Read more about our patient education program

Education for Clinicians

We are providing an educational webinar series based on the latest research to clinicians, to help them support their patients. Our webinar series, the Core Transplant Curriculum, covers core issues surrounding kidney transplantation, including the risks and benefits of transplantation, comparisons with other renal replacement modalities, donor evaluation, psychosocial considerations, managing waitlisted patients, and more.

Read more about our professional education program

See also

Patient Education
Professional Education