CCTC CCTC - Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator Psychosocial Assessment and Support Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which standardized tool is most commonly used by transplant coordinators to screen for depression in transplant candidates?
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (Correct answer)
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
- Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Correct answer: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
The PHQ-9 is the most widely validated and used screening tool for depression in the transplant population across US centers.
Question 2: A transplant candidate discloses active alcohol use during psychosocial evaluation. What is the minimum sobriety period typically required by most US transplant programs before listing for liver transplant?
- 3 months
- 6 months (Correct answer)
- 12 months
- 24 months
Correct answer: 6 months
Most US liver transplant programs require a minimum of 6 months of documented sobriety, though some programs may require longer periods based on individual risk assessment.
Question 3: Which member of the transplant multidisciplinary team is primarily responsible for conducting formal psychosocial evaluations of transplant candidates?
- Transplant coordinator
- Transplant social worker or psychologist (Correct answer)
- Transplant hepatologist
- Financial counselor
Correct answer: Transplant social worker or psychologist
A licensed clinical social worker or transplant psychologist performs the formal psychosocial evaluation, while the coordinator facilitates and documents the process.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of identifying a designated caregiver during pre-transplant evaluation?
- To complete insurance paperwork
- To provide essential physical and emotional support during recovery and ensure medication adherence (Correct answer)
- To act as a financial guarantor for transplant costs
- To attend all clinic appointments as a legal requirement
Correct answer: To provide essential physical and emotional support during recovery and ensure medication adherence
A reliable caregiver is essential for post-transplant recovery, medication management, and transportation, and inadequate social support can be a contraindication to listing.
Question 5: A listed transplant recipient is found to have relapsed to illicit drug use. According to UNOS policy and standard transplant practice, what is the most appropriate immediate action?
- Proceed with transplant if an organ becomes available immediately
- Place the patient on hold status and refer to substance use treatment (Correct answer)
- Permanently delist the patient without further evaluation
- Notify law enforcement about the substance use
Correct answer: Place the patient on hold status and refer to substance use treatment
UNOS policy requires that patients be placed on hold and referred for appropriate substance use treatment; permanent delisting decisions follow a structured multidisciplinary review.
Question 6: Which of the following psychosocial factors is considered a RELATIVE contraindication to transplant listing by most US programs?
- History of treated depression now in remission
- Active non-adherence to current medical regimen without demonstrated improvement (Correct answer)
- Presence of a supportive spouse as sole caregiver
- Prior history of completed psychotherapy
Correct answer: Active non-adherence to current medical regimen without demonstrated improvement
Active non-adherence to current treatment, with no evidence of improvement or insight, signals high risk for post-transplant non-adherence and is a relative contraindication.
CCTC CCTC - Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator Psychosocial Assessment and Support Questions and Answers 1
Which standardized tool is most commonly used by transplant coordinators to screen for depression in transplant candidates?