{
  "abstract": "Background Adolescents with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, or post-transplant status often report isolation, anxiety, and difficulty managing complex treatment regimens. Transition to adult services is particularly challenging, and locally young people expressed a need for safe spaces to share experiences. We aimed to evaluate a pilot virtual peer-support programme designed to improve confidence, reduce isolation, and provide developmentally appropriate education.Methods The Renal Rangers programme delivered 24 online sessions (April–July 2025) to a cohort of 15 patients aged 15–17. Sessions ran twice weekly, with 1–9 participants per session. Young people could join flexibly from home or while in hospital. Each session was co-facilitated by the renal youth worker and a rotating professional (consultant, CNS, pharmacist, dietitian, family therapist, family support officer). Sessions used dual coding (visual + verbal), interactive ice-breakers, and peer discussion. Topics included body image, relationships, substance use, sexual health, and financial literacy. Mixed methods evaluation combined post-session surveys (Likert scale) with free-text feedback.Results Survey data indicated high levels of positive impact: ‘feeling more cheerful’ (mean 2.75/4, 69%), ‘confidence to speak out’ (mean 3.1/4, 78%), and ‘better understanding of my health needs’ (mean 3.25/4, 81%). Qualitative feedback reinforced these findings, with participants describing ‘opening up more about feelings,’ ‘speaking up and not feeling pressured,’ and ‘making new friendships with other people on dialysis like me.’ Parents observed improved social connectedness and enthusiasm for participation.Conclusion Renal Rangers demonstrates that a virtual youth hub can provide adolescents with renal disease a safe, accessible space for peer support and education. A subsequent summer series will focus on medication-specific sessions with pharmacists. The model may be adaptable across other specialties, supporting personalised, developmentally appropriate care beyond hospital walls.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Cassie Thompson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Daljit Hothi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Louise McAlister"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Claire Gaymer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Gurpreet Ahluwalia"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sarit Shah"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Ananya Ahlawat"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Cillian Gray"
    }
  ],
  "title": "35 Renal Rangers: Empowering transition readiness in adolescents with renal disease through virtual peer-support and education",
  "uid": "454241c0-fd57-58b4-8df1-fb3ae9f661b5"
}