Health Care Professionals as Relatives in Organ Donation Interviews: Analysis of the Important Role of Health Care Professionals as Family Members

Abstract

Introduction: The organ and tissue donation interview is a vital step in obtaining the donation. Therefore, it is important to obtain as much information as possible regarding the relatives of the potential donor prior to this interview and know if there is a health care professional among the relatives who may act as an interlocutor.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the influence that relatives who are health care professionals may have if present at the interview for the organ and tissue donation request.

Methods: This is a descriptive study of all the organ donations from 1996 to 2019. Variables of the interview record form were completed by the Regional Transplant Coordination Office. Quantitative variables are expressed as mean (standard deviation) or median (interquartile range), and qualitative variables are expressed in percentage. The χ² test was used for inferential statistics.

Results: Health care professionals were present as interlocutors in 8.4% of the total interviews conducted (9279). Organ donation was accepted in 86% of these interviews, while the relative who was a health care professional gave a 93.8% (729) positive response to the donation. Having a health care professional as an interlocutor favors the acceptance of the donation (odds ratio 9.325, 95% confidence interval: 5.054-17.205; P < .001).

Conclusion: Health care professionals have a very positive attitude toward donation. This attitude positively impacts other relatives' acceptance of the donation.