Organ donation education in the ICU setting: a qualitative and quantitative analysis of family preferences

Determine family-centered methods of providing organ donation education to families in ICU waiting rooms.

We performed a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews and quantitative analysis of paper surveys of family members of 118 ICU patients in the acute ICU setting.

Twelve interviews and 152 surveys (66% response rate) were completed. Respondents' knowledge of organ donation processes was incomplete: only 32% answered all of four questions about donation correctly. No significant correlation was found between respondents' objective knowledge scores and their self-reported donation knowledge (ρ = 0.07, p = .46). Seventy-five percent of respondents (110/147) thought receiving donation information during the ICU stay would aid their decision-making regarding donation. The most preferred methods of receiving information were via a website link (94% positive or neutral response) or brochures in the waiting room (89% positive or neutral), while the least preferred methods were having brochures in the ICU admission packet (24% negative) and a poster in the ICU waiting room (22% negative).

ICU families desire accurate information about organ donation, and are receptive to its provision in the acute ICU setting. Family-centered approaches to information delivery may enhance understanding of organ donation processes and aid decision-making about organ donation.