341.6: Direct and Indirect Effects of an Educational And Communication Skills Intervention to Increase Donor Designation in Latinx Communities: Promotoras de DonacióN

Abstract

Introduction: Latinx populations are severely underrepresented amongst organ donors as compared to non-Hispanic whites. The Promotoras de Donación eLearning module was developed to train Latinx lay health educators (i.e., promotoras) to discuss deceased organ donation and promote donor registration within their communities. This report describes the results of two studies designed to assess the direct and indirect effects of the module. Method: Forty promotoras affiliated with four partnering community-based organizations completed the module. Brief online surveys were administered before and after module completion to assess changes in organ donation knowledge and support, and communication confidence (Study 1). Promotoras participating in the first study were then asked to hold at least 2 group conversations about organ donation and donor designation with mature Latinas (Study 2). Fifty-two group discussions were held with 375 attendees. Self-administered, paper-pencil surveys were completedy by promotora and attendees before and after each group discussion. Descriptive statistics, means and standard deviations and counts and percents, were used as appropriate, to categorize the samples. The Paired Sample t-test statistic was used to assess changes in knowledge of and support for organ donation, and confidence discussing donation and promoting donor designation from pre- to post-test. Results: Increases in knowledge and support were observed from pre- to post-test, however these changes did not reach statistical significance. A statistically significant increase in communication confidence was found (692.1 (pre) to 852.3 (post); p=.01). The module was well-received, with most participants deeming it well-organized, presenting new information, and providing realistic and helpful portrayals of donation conversations (Study 1). The trained promotora-led group discussion about organ donation resulted in increased support of organ donation among both promotoras and mature Latinas. Knoweldge of the steps to become an organ donor and belief that the process is easy to do increased in attendees from pre- to post-test 30.7% and 15.2% respectively (Study 2). Twenty-one attendees (0.06%) submitted completed organ donation registration forms. Conclusion: This evaluation provides preliminary support for the module’s direct and indirect impact. The need for additional modifications to and future evaluations of the module are discussed. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Division of Transplantation. This study was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Division of Transplantation (HRSA/DoT R39OT29878, PI: Traino (Gardiner)). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA/DoT.