Pediatric organ transplantation and the hispanic population: approaching families and obtaining their consent
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C A Pietz1, T Mayes, A Naclerio
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA. pietz@uthscsa.edu
Insights
Hispanic families are less likely to consent to pediatric organ donation. This may be due to them being approached less often, highlighting a need for culturally sensitive outreach in pediatric organ donation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Transplantation research
- Public health disparities
Background:
- Increasing pediatric organ transplant waiting lists necessitate understanding donation barriers.
- Limited data exists on organ donation among Hispanic children.
- Physician awareness of factors influencing Hispanic families is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate organ donation consent rates in Hispanic children.
- To identify factors influencing organ donation decisions in Hispanic families.
- To compare organ donation practices between Hispanic and non-Hispanic families.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 88 pediatric brain death cases (1990-1999).
- Analysis of brain death determination, age, ethnicity, approach for donation, and consent rates.
- Comparison between Hispanic/Caucasian (H/C) and non-Hispanic/Caucasian (NH/C) families.
Main Results:
- Hispanic/Caucasian families had lower consent rates for pediatric organ donation (P <= .03).
- Hispanic/Caucasian families were approached less frequently for organ donation (P <= .08).
- Hispanic/Caucasian families showed a trend towards lower consent even when approached (P <= .087).
Conclusions:
- Hispanic families exhibit lower organ donation consent rates compared to non-Hispanic families.
- Lower consent rates may stem from less frequent approaches for organ donation.
- Culturally sensitive strategies are needed to improve organ donation engagement with Hispanic families.
Background:
While the number of children on waiting lists for organ donation continues to increase, little data exists concerning Hispanic children and organ donation. For physicians who care for Hispanic children, it is important to understand the factors that may influence organ donation in this population.
Methods:
This retrospective chart review included 88 cases of brain death that occurred between 1990 and 1999 in 3 pediatric intensive care units. The data set included brain death determination, age, ethnicity, whether the family was approached for organ donation, and rate of consent.
Results:
Compared with non-Hispanic/Caucasian (NH/C) families, fewer Hispanic/Caucasian (H/C) families consented to organ donation (P < or = .03). H/C families were approached less often for organ donation than NH/C families, although the difference was not significant (P < or = .08). Even once approached, H/C families were probably less likely to consent to organ donation (P < or = .087).
Conclusion:
H/C families of children with brain death show a lower organ donation consent rate than do NH/C families. However, H/C families are less likely to be approached for organ donation and this may possibly explain the reason that fewer H/C families consent to organ donation.
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