A model for evaluating tissue donation seminars: implications for skin banks

Educational seminars on tissue donation are costly in terms of time, effort, and resources, for both the planners and the participants. Although long-term outcomes from these projects cannot always be practically assessed, specific short-term conclusions can be drawn and degrees of success measured. An ideal evaluation technique needs to address issues such as identification of participant interests, levels of existing participant knowledge, and participant reaction to presented materials. Assessment in these areas allows for subsequent modifications intended to produce more effective and interesting seminars. Such an evaluation technique has been developed, and it is presented here in the context of its application to an educational seminar on the topic of organ and tissue procurement with special reference to skin banking.