Behavior Profile of Family Members of Donors and Nondonors of Organs

Abstract 

Organ transplant shortage is a global problem caused by several factors, most of which are related to members of the family, who play a major role in the donation process.

Objective

We sought to determine the most determinant features in the donor profile that relate to positive decisions versus refusal of donation.

Material and Methods

Fifty-six families who were approached by the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) from November 2004 to April 2006 agreed to participate in this work. To assess donor profiles, we used a structured interview.

Results

Parental involvement directly in decisions about donation lead to significantly less frequent consent (P = .005), young donor age was associated with a reduced probability of donation (P = .002), violent death negatively influenced donation consent, excluding suicide (P = .004).

Conclusion

The present study showed violent death, young patient age, and parental donation consent to be the most important factors that make it harder to obtain consent organ donation. When a collateral relative (sibling/uncle) or children were responsible for the donation decision, there was more success of consent.