Pointers on increasing organ donation consent rates:

            Laura Siminoff, PhD and her team from case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio have had their hands full reviewing 11,555 records and collecting data on all donor eligible deaths at 9 trauma hospitals in southwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio from 1994 to 1995. The results of the study were published in the July 4, 2001 issue of JAMA. Of all the records reviewed, 741(6.4%) of the cases were potential solid organ donors. Requests for donation were made either by a healthcare practitioner (HCP) or the organ procurement organization (OPO) to 596 (80.4%) donor eligible families and resulted in a 47.5% consent rate.

            The study found that families of patients who were younger, male, and who died from trauma were more likely to donate, as were families who were white, more positive about organ donation, and who believed the patient would have wanted to donate. The study reiterated the fact that a good relationship between families and the HCPs caring for the patient, and opportunities to talk with HCPs who were comfortable answering families’ questions about donation increased consent rates. It was recommended that HCPs introduce such topics as costs of donation, which organs can be donated, and the effect of donation on the funeral arrangements. The results also suggested that HCPs should ensure that the OPO staff is called early in the process and then work under the direction of the OPO staff to optimize the donation request. Data indicated that time spent by the family with a professional from the OPO staff to optimize the donation request. Data indicated that time spent by the family with a professional from the OPO was strongly associated with the decision to donate. The researchers recommended that large, rigorously conducted intervention studies be done to determine the characteristics of successful requests.