2 Journal of Renal Care 2011 © 2011 European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association Wilkinson E., Randhawa G., Farrington K., Greenwood R., Feehally J., Choi P., Lightstone L., (2011). Lack of awareness of kidney complications despite familiarity with diabetes: a multi-ethnic qualitative study. Journal of Renal Care 37(1), 2-11. SUMMARY Background: Comparing South Asians with White Europeans and examining the cultural context of any observed differences is a necessary step in achieving culturally competent services and in helping to reduce inequalities which exist in outcomes for South Asian patients with End Stage Renal Disease. Methods: Newly referred South Asian and White adult patients with diabetes were recruited from nephrology outpatient clinics in three UK centres—Luton, West London and Leicester. A semi-structured qualitative interview was conducted with 48 patients and a thematic analysis of the data produced is reported. Results: Access to knowledge about renal complications of diabetes, was related to referral to renal services and recent monitoring and not to previous medical encounters. South Asian patients were aware of the high prevalence of diabetes within South Asian communities and a small number reported experience of kidney problems in other family members although any connection with diabetes was not made. Conclusion: Ongoing renal care information should be provided to people with diabetes and the cultural context of any information exchange needs to be addressed. KEY WORDS Access • Care pathway • Patient experience • Renal complications of diabetes • South Asian Emma Wilkinson 1 , Gurch Randhawa 1 , Ken Farrington 2 , Roger Greenwood 2 , John Feehally 3 , Peter Choi 4 , Liz Lightstone 4 1 Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK 2 Lister Renal Unit, North Herts NHS Trust, Stevenage, UK 3 John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK 4 West London Renal and Transplant Centre, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK BIODATA Emma Wilkinson is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire. She coordinates two externally funded research projects: Diabetic Renal Disease Care Pathway study and end- of-life Care study. Common aspects of these studies are that they explore the South Asian patient experience relating to quality of care, patient pathways and cultural competency of services. She has a background in bio- medical science and public health research, conducting applied NHS health research for the past 15 years. Her main research interest is the application of mixed method research and action research methodology to public health issues. She provides expertise for the NIHR Research Design Services and teaches on MSc Public Health course at the University of Bedfordshire. The research reported here has been conducted with groups of NHS clinicians in primary and secondary care. The overarching theme of the work relates to inequalities in, and access to, healthcare across diverse populations. Gurch Randhawa is Professor of Diversity in Public Health and Director of the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire. He has spent many years researching issues relating to health inequalities focusing on issues such as primary care, mental health, diabetes, kidney disease, transplantation and end-of-life care amongst minority ethnic groups. He was recently a member of the Department of Health’s Organ Donation Taskforce. As part of the work of the Taskforce, he was Chair of the Social & Cultural Working Group and undertook a series of individual meetings with the UK’s Faith and Belief Leaders to discuss organ donation. Gurch is currently serving as Chairman of the Department of Health’s end-of-life Care for Advanced Kidney Disease Project Board. He is Chairman of NHS Luton, a Member of the UK Donation Ethics Committee and a Member of the Human Tissue Authority. CORRESPONDENCE Gurch Randhawa University of Bedfordshire, Putteridge Bury Campus, Hitchin Road, Luton, LU2 8LE, UK. Tel.: 01582 743797 Fax: 01582 743918 gurch.randhawa@beds.ac.uk LACK OF AWARENESS OF KIDNEY COMPLICATIONS DESPITE FAMILIARITY WITH DIABETES: A MULTI-ETHNIC QUALITATIVE STUDY