Development of the living donation and kidney transplantation information made easy (KidneyTIME) educational animations.

Background: Current web-based educational approaches about living kidney donation (LKD) are complex, lengthy, and/or text-laden, which may impair accurate interpretation of information, thereby limiting kidney transplant access.

Purpose: This paper describes the process of developing animation-based LKD education designed to be suitable for and acceptable to kidney transplant candidates and their support networks.

Methods: Based on formative work, early animation prototypes were designed by a transplant surgeon and a health communication expert. In qualitative focus groups and individual interviews, animation prototypes were shown to 46 kidney transplant recipients, 28 kidney transplant candidates, 32 previous or potential kidney donors, 10 caregivers, 32 transplant providers, 24 dialysis providers, and 4 cultural and community advisors for their input regarding animation suitability, acceptability, and potential usability/feasibility. Viewer feedback was used to iteratively refine the animations. Animation design to facilitate adult learning was guided by elaboration theory, Bandura's self-efficacy theory, and Mayer's cognitive theory of multimedia learning.

Results: KidneyTIME currently consists of 12 animations about LKD process, benefits, and risks.

Conclusions: Patients/friends/family members, experts, and stakeholders provided valuable feedback to the research team that was integrated into the development of KidneyTIME with the goal of enhancing suitability, acceptability, engagement, usability, and feasibility of dissemination.