Organ donation and transplantation in general practice

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Public Health
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Public awareness campaigns for organ donation are a national priority.
• The role and challenges within primary healthcare settings are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the attitudes and experiences of general practitioners (GPs) concerning organ donation.
• To identify barriers and opportunities for increasing organ donation conversations in primary care.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 200 general practitioners (GPs) in Ireland.
• Data collected included provision of donor information, comfort discussing donation, patient inquiries, and perceived knowledge on donation topics.

Main Results:

• Only a minority of GPs provided donor cards (38%) or displayed information (28.2%).
• While 81.3% felt comfortable discussing organ donation, only 4.8% initiated conversations with patients.
• Many GPs lacked confidence in advising patients on organ procurement, living donation, and immunosuppression medications.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists in primary healthcare regarding dialogue and familiarity with organ donation.
• Targeted interventions in primary care settings are needed to enhance GP engagement and improve organ donation rates.