Organ donation procedures: an epidemiological study

To evaluate the impact of organ and tissue donation processes on family members of deceased donors and the probability that they would be an organ or tissue donor in the future.

Cross-sectional survey of 69 families of deceased donors of the organ procurement organizations of the Federal University of São Paulo.

Donors were predominantly men (57% vs 43%) with a median age of 35.9 years. The primary causes of death were classified as natural (65%), traumatic injury (33%), and other (1%). Of the family members surveyed, 40% had an elementary school education and 59% were unemployed. Family members expressed an understanding of the brain death diagnosis (67%). Among them, 74% had no doubt about brain death and had time to ask questions. The diagnosis was provided by the doctor responsible for the patient (89%). Family members also used funeral aid benefit (63%), perceived organ donation positively (97%), and indicated that they would donate again (79%). A significant relationship was found between families that took advantage of the funeral aid benefit and families that would donate again (79% vs 22%, P = .002).

The intent to donate organs for transplantation may be based more on moral and cultural factors that go beyond the family members' knowledge about the donation process per se.