Improving the request process to increase family consent for organ donation

• Published in: Journal of transplant coordination Vol. 8; no. 4; p. 210
• Main Authors: Gortmaker, S L, Beasley, C L, Sheehy, E, Lucas, B A, Brigham, L E, Grenvik, A, Patterson, R H, Garrison, N, McNamara, P, Evanisko, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.1998
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Family - psychology; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Informed Consent; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Professional-Family Relations; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tissue and Organ Procurement - methods; Tissue and Organ Procurement - statistics & numerical data; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0905-9199
• DOI: 10.1177/090591999800800404

The greatest impediment to organ donation is refusal of family consent. This study examined the impact of 3 modifiable elements of the donation request on family consent rates: (1) decoupling (i.e., the family understands and accepts brain death before discussion of organ donation is begun); (2) the procurement coordinator participates in the request for consent; and (3) donation is requested in a quiet, private place. Data on the request process were collected prospectively for 707 medically suitable potential donors who had been referred to 3 organ procurement organizations. The average rate of consent for donation was 62.2%. Higher consent rates were independently associated with the 3 characteristics studied. These components were summarized in the Request Process Scale. Multivariate regression analyses indicated that consent rates can be as high as 74% when all 3 process elements are present. Hospitals and organ procurement organizations should incorporate these elements into their standard of practice when requesting organ donation.