THE ROLE OF THE REQUEST PROCESS AND CONSENT FOR ORGAN DONATION.
Contributors: University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 126
Subjects: Sociology, General.; Health Sciences, Health Care Management.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify relationships among the variables within the request for organ donation process which would allow the development of strategies to increase the levels of donated organs available for organ transplantation. Specifically, this research examined the relationship between the next of kin of a potential organ donor and the category of person participating in the donation process in hopes of identifying factors which influence that process. This research used a posttest only control group design and studied a convenience population of 508 cases, with subjects divided between the experimental and control groups dependent upon whether or not employees of the local organ procurement organization were involved in the approach and/or request phases of obtaining consent, and whether or not the participants (the next of kin of a potential organ donor and the employment category of the person making the request for organ donation) involved in the request process were of a "same" or "non same" racial category. The research was conducted by means of a retrospective analysis of data compiled and maintained by the Washington Regional Transplant Consortium, the Federally designated organization which provides coordination of organ transplantation services to the 41 hospitals located in the National Capital area of Washington D.C.

The results indicated that both groups were comparable with respect to the descriptive statistics. Chi-square was employed to test the hypotheses. Results indicated an association between the employment category of the person making the approach and/or request and the outcome of obtaining consent for organ donation. Although chi-square also supported an association between the presence of a "same" race dyad participating in the request process and obtaining consent for organ donation, further analysis suggested that this association may be due to the race of the next of kin involved in the request for donation process rather than the specific racial composition of the dyads. The findings supported the use of individuals trained in the organ donation process since they obtained higher levels of consent than individuals not so trained, and indicated that involvement of these trained individuals during only the request phase is just as effective in obtaining consents as involvement during both the approach and request phases.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-05, Section: A, page: 2211.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY, 1996.

School code: 0434.