Factors That Influence Decisions About Organ Donation

Abstract

Bioethics| August 01 2008 Factors That Influence Decisions About Organ Donation AAP Grand Rounds (2008) 20 (2): 19. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.20-2-19 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Factors That Influence Decisions About Organ Donation. AAP Grand Rounds August 2008; 20 (2): 19. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.20-2-19 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: organ donation Source: Rodrigue JR, Cornell DL, Howard RJ. Pediatric organ donation: what factors most influence parents’ donation decisions? Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2008;9(2):180–185; doi:10.1097/PCC.0b013e3181668605 To evaluate factors associated with a decision to donate organs from a deceased child, researchers from Boston, MA, and Gainesville, FL, conducted a survey of parents whose child had recently died. The study used a passive recruitment plan: over a four-year period, parents of recently deceased children (<18 years old) were informed of the study by a coordinator from an organ procurement organization following the parents’ decision regarding organ donation. Parents initiated telephone contact if they wished to have more information. Of 112 parents informed about the study, 74 participated (66.2%), including 49 who made a decision to donate organs and 25 who decided not to donate organs. Interviews were done by telephone, and 80% of the participating parents were interviewed within four weeks of the decision regarding organ donation. Multiple factors were assessed to ascertain statistical associations with the decision-making process. Children who had been hospitalized longer prior to declaration of death (mean of 5.4 days vs 2.3 days) were significantly more likely to be organ donors. Neither cause of death nor gender of the patient was associated with organ donation. Parents without college education, those with prior expressed intention to personally serve as an organ donor (eg, donor card, driver’s license), and those with a good understanding of brain death were significantly more likely to consent to donation. Parents who consented had significantly more favorable attitudes and beliefs about organ donation than those who did not, and were more likely to have been exposed to information about donation or transplantation within the last six months. Parents were more likely to agree to organ donation if a member of the health care team or a family member, rather than a member of the organ procurement team, first mentioned the possibility of organ donation, and if there was no family disagreement about the decision to donate. Those who consented were more likely to feel that the person asking for consent was sensitive to their needs, and to feel that they were given adequate time to understand and discuss the issue. In addition, parents who consented to organ donation were generally more satisfied with the health care team. The authors suggest that attention to these modifiable variables could improve rates of pediatric organ donation. Dr. Yates has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. Although public attitudes toward organ donation for transplantation are generally positive,1 only about half of families actually consent to such donations.2 The deceased’s intentions (if known) weigh heavily in such a decision. Donation from children is more problematic since the burden of the decision rests with parents, and even older children have rarely expressed a preference regarding organ donation. Medical science surrounding organ donation has advanced radically over the past several... You do not currently have access to this content.