Organ donation: psychosocial factors of the decision-making process

Valeria Carola; Chiara Morale; Cristina Vincenzo; Valentina Cecchi; Livia Errico; Giampaolo Nicolais

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1111328

Organ donation: psychosocial factors of the decision-making process

Front Psychol. 2023 May 26:14:1111328. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1111328. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Valeria Carola¹, Chiara Morale¹, Cristina Vincenzo¹, Valentina Cecchi¹, Livia Errico², Giampaolo Nicolais¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
² Coordination of Organ and Tissue Donation, Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Organ donation has a crucial impact on patient care and survival, of which the worldwide gap between organ demand and supply is currently one of the most challenging issues. Brain-dead patients are the main source of organs that can be donated, but donation requires the consent of family members-a choice that is often complex and stressful and leads to refusal of consent. This mini-review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the impact of certain psychosocial factors on the decision-making process with regard to organ donation by family members. In particular, the influence of several aspects is emphasized, such as sociodemographic factors, knowledge of the organ donation process, religious beliefs, concerns that are related to the choice to donate, and mode of communication. Consistent with this evidence, we emphasize the need to examine these aspects further through interventions and guidelines that improve the organ donation application process and ensure a positive experience for the family that has to make the decision.

Keywords: clinical psychology; communication; decision-making; organ and tissue donation; psychosocial factors.

Publication types

Review