Kidney transplants are regarded as the most preferred treatment intervention for patients suffering from end-stage kidney disease. However, access to kidney transplants remain relatively problematic because of some issues relating to ethnicity, culture, gender, and social determinants of health. According to Khanal et al. (2018), ethnicity affects access to kidney transplants as Indigenous Australians are less likely to undergo dialysis than non-Indigenous Australians. Indigenous Australians are less likely to be placed on the kidney transplantation waiting list in comparison to non-Indigenous Australians. Additionally, this population experience challenges in early access to renal replacement therapy. With regards to social determinants of health, Indigenous Australians are less likely to access to get kidney transplants because of their remoteness. These people live in remote areas characterized with poor health service delivery and a burden of comorbid conditions. As a result of living in remote areas, these individuals have different values and beliefs regarding care that affect health seeking behaviors.

Given these factors, the healthcare team needs to undertake measures that seek to improve the delivery of healthcare service relating to enhancing access to kidney transplants and renal replacement therapy. One of the approaches the team should undertake to improve service is transcultural nursing, which refers to culture-related aspects of healthcare delivery (Albougami, Pounds & Alotaibi, 2016). Transcultural nursing approach requires understanding culture-related concepts that affect healthcare delivery and health seeking behaviors in this population. The team should adopt culturally-congruent healthcare practices that seeks to enhance care delivery based on the ethnic issues affecting the population and social determinants of health. Through this, the team will demonstrate cultural competence and adopt practices that seek to improve service.

References

Albougami, A.S., Pounds, K.G. & Alotaibi, J.S. (2016, June 27). Comparison of Four Cultural Competence Models in Transcultural Nursing: A Discussion Paper. International Archives of Nursing and Health Care, 2(4). DOI: 10.23937/2469-5823/1510053

Khanal, N., Lawton, P.D., Cass, A. & McDonald, S.P. (2018, September 17). Disparity of Access to Kidney Transplantation by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The Medical Journal of Australia, 209(6), 261-266.