Study recruitment: Research into experiences of pancreas and pancreas-kidney transplant recipients

Researchers looking to talk to pancreas or simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients.

Understanding issues faced by pancreas or simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients following surgery is the aim of a research project currently seeking volunteers.

While organ transplants can save lives, there can also be physical, mental and social challenges following surgery.

Researchers from Newcastle University are looking to interview transplant recipients, aged 18 years or above who have had a kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, or lung transplant more than 12 months ago, to find out more about well-being and quality of life after transplant surgery.

Researchers said: “We want to speak to as varied a group of people as possible, no matter their background, beliefs, or where they live in the United Kingdom.

“We hope the information gathered from the interviews will provide us with a comprehensive understanding of the issues – positive and negative – that transplant recipients face after their transplant surgery. Speaking to people from a variety of backgrounds and places will help to inform and shape any future services in a manner that reflects the wide range of experiences, views, and beliefs there may be across the population of transplant recipients in the UK.

“We will also use the information from the interviews to support the development of what are called Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for transplant recipients. PROMs are questionnaires that allow patients to answer questions about their quality of life, physical and mental health symptoms and functioning, and other issues to do with health and well-being.

“Interviews will last approximately 60 minutes although they may be slightly longer or shorter. They will be held either online, using Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or over the telephone. This has the benefit of minimising travel and reducing risks to both participants and researchers.

“The results from this study will be published in professional journals where the quality of the results will be assessed. In addition, results will be presented at national and international academic and research meetings.”

For more information, or if you are interested in being part of the study researchers request you complete the expression of interest form here

If you have any additional questions, email the research team here

This work is part of the research taking place in the Newcastle and Cambridge NIHR/NHSBT Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation. The Research Unit is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and backed by NHS Blood and Transplant. You can find more information on the Unit’s website.

This study is being led by Catherine Exley, Professor of Qualitative Health Research and Dean of Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University. The researchers who are doing the interviews work directly with Catherine Exley at Newcastle University.

NOTE: DRWF will from time-to-time advise readers of ‘calls to participate’ in diabetes and related health research studies. It should not necessarily be considered that the charity is in any way connected to the study or the group issuing the call for participants. If we are involved in any way, we will make this known. We will only share external calls where we have confirmed that the study holds ethics committee approval, and the study is specific to diabetes and related health. Taking part in a medical research study is a big step and further helpful information can be found via the National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Trials Guide.