CompletedNot Applicable

System Interventions to Achieve Early and Equitable Transplants (STEPS) Study

United States1,168 participantsStarted 2022-04-02

Plain-language summary

This project will study how kidney care for everyone despite race can reduce racial differences in care and improve access to kidney transplants, and specifically living donor kidney transplants (LDKT), for individuals with chronic kidney disease. A study focused on equality and patient needs (called 'STEPS') will 1) create a program to identify people who may need a kidney transplant ('STEPS Surveillance') and find people in health systems who may be able to receive kidney transplants early in their care and (2) study how well the 'STEPS Outreach' program works (comprised of transplant social workers and transplant coordinators who focus on equality and patient needs) compared to usual care to improve access to kidney transplants among Black and non-Black individuals as well as to improve access to transplants for everyone.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to provide oral informed consent * Male or female, aged 18 to \<=75 years * Presence of CKD (2 eGFRs \<60, 90 days apart) and at least 1 of the following: most recent eGFR less than 30 or KFRE greater than 10% * English speaking with adequate ability to hear and understand questions over the phone * Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study Exclusion Criteria: * Male or female, aged \<18 or \> 75 years * Non-English speaking * Lack of ability to hear and comprehend verbal communication. * Patients on dialysis * Deceased * Hospice/palliative care * Prior kidney transplant * Currently waitlisted at any transplant center * Self-reported terminal illness or receipt of hospice services

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Health system reported completion of transplant evaluation

Timeframe: 18 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05014256

SponsorWake Forest University Health Sciences

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Chronic Kidney Diseases trials