Swedish Intensive Care Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Views on Donation After Circulatory Death Before a National...

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Transplantation Medicine
• Nursing Science

Background:

• Growing organ transplant waiting lists due to population increase and donor shortages.
• Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) offers a solution but poses nursing care challenges.
• Limited research exists on nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards DCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess intensive care nurses' (ICNs) knowledge and attitudes regarding DCD before its national implementation in Sweden.
• To identify factors influencing ICNs' preparedness for DCD.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional mixed-method design.
• Convenience sampling of 51 ICNs from four Swedish intensive care units.
• Study-specific tool with quantitative and qualitative questions, analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, and thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• 53% of ICNs reported limited DCD knowledge.
• Prior DCD education correlated with higher knowledge, public engagement, and ethical consideration.
• Qualitative themes included team importance, ethical discussion needs, knowledge gaps, and unmet needs.

Conclusions:

• Nurses with organ donor care education demonstrated better DCD knowledge and attitudes.
• Interprofessional teamwork is crucial for successful DCD implementation.
• Targeted education and clear guidelines are essential to prepare ICU nurses for DCD and address organ shortages.