Appointing nurses trained in organ donation to improve family consent rates

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.