Witjes M, Jansen NE, van Dongen J, Herold IHF, Otterspoor L, Haase-Kromwijk BJJM, van der Hoeven JG, Abdo WF. Appointing nurses trained in organ donation to improve family consent rates.
Nurs Crit Care 2019;
25:299-304. [PMID:
31294520 PMCID:
PMC7507830 DOI:
10.1111/nicc.12462]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background
One of the most important bottlenecks in the organ donation process worldwide is the high family refusal rate.
Aims and objectives
The main aim of this study was to examine whether family guidance by trained donation practitioners increased the family consent rate for organ donation.
Design
This was a prospective intervention study.
Methods
Intensive and coronary care unit nurses were trained in communication about donation (ie, trained donation practitioners) in two hospitals. The trained donation practitioners were appointed to guide the families of patients with a poor medical prognosis. When the patient became a potential donor, the trained donation practitioner was there to guide the family in making a well‐considered decision about donation. We compared the family consent rate for donation with and without the guidance of a trained donation practitioner.
Results
The consent rate for donation with guidance by a trained donation practitioner was 58.8% (20/34), while the consent rate without guidance by a trained donation practitioner was 41.4% (41/99, P = 0.110) in those patients where the family had to decide on organ donation.
Conclusions
Our data suggest that family guidance by a trained donation practitioner could benefit consent rates for organ donation.
Relevance to clinical practice
Trained nurses play an important role in supporting the families of patients who became potential donors to guide them through the decision‐making process after organ donation request.
Collapse