The Family Study

Project Summary

This is a mixed methods investigation of the well-being of children & their siblings, in families where a child is living with a solid organ transplant or chronic kidney disease. 

Young people living with chronic disease and their families deal with very challenging situations on a daily basis. That includes children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and children living with a solid organ transplant. Although past research had shown that children with chronic illnesses are at risk for a wide variety of difficulties in multiple areas of functioning, specific context in CKD population (with or without a transplant) is still unknown. As well, the well-being of the parents and siblings of young people with CKD remain under-studied. The goal of this study is to better understand the psychosocial difficulties, resilience and post-traumatic growth of young people with CKD or a transplant, and their family members through both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

This mixed methods study is being conducted by Dr. Caroline Pitrowski at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM). BC Children's Hospital is a participating site, with Dr. Tom Blydt-Hansen as the site principal investigator.

Funding support from Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM).

For more information, view our study brochure or email sotresearch@bcchr.ca.

Project Status

Status: Active, pre-enrolment
Study Start Date: January 25, 2024
Study End Date: Ongoing

Study Enrolment Status: Active
Start Date: March 25, 2024
End Date: Ongoing

Project Team

Principal Investigator

Dr. Caroline Piotrowski

Co-Investigators

Dr. Tom Blydt-Hansen
Dr. Gina Rempel
Dr. Robin Erickson
Dr. Ashley Giesbrecht
Dr. Anne Kazak
Dr. Laura Rockman

Research Team Members

Yunan Li is a research assistant in our lab who will be supporting study recruitment activities

Irene Chen is a new graduate student, who will be working on this study as part of her project work.

Bhavana Gourish is a new research assistant in our lab who will be supporting study recruitment and data collection activities.

Minh Nguyen is a worklearn student in our lab who will be supporting the data collection and transcription activities.

Enrolment Eligibility Criteria
  1. Families with a child under 18 years old in BCCH renal clinic with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease with at least one sibling between the age of 6-18 years.
  2. Families with a child under 18 years old who have been referred for or have recently undergone a kidney transplant (<1year) in the BCCH renal or transplant clinic with at least one sibling between the age of 6-18 years.
  3. Non kidney solid organ transplant patients seeking treatment at BC Children's Hospital.