Transformative Learning Among Organ Procurement Organization Donor Family Volunteers.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Thanatology

Background:

• Some bereaved family members volunteer with organ procurement organizations (OPOs).
• Volunteers share their family's organ donation stories to educate the public and medical professionals.
• This study examines transformative learning in volunteers during and after the organ donation consent process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the transformative learning experiences of volunteers who are family members of organ donors.
• To understand how the organ donation consent process and subsequent volunteer work influence learning and meaning-making.

Main Methods:

• A narrative inquiry research methodology was employed.
• A transformative learning theoretical framework guided the study.
• Six volunteers participated in two semistructured virtual interviews, which were analyzed using holistic-content and holistic-form narrative analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants initially experienced disorientation and emotional responses following their family member's loss, hindering transformative learning.
• Volunteering prompted self-examination and reengagement with organ donation.
• Storytelling about their family's organ donation experience facilitated critical reflection, meaning-making, and personal transformation.

Conclusions:

• Volunteering with an OPO initiated self-examination and critical reflection on prior assumptions for bereaved families.
• Engaging in storytelling allowed participants to reflect on their roles and derive meaning from their organ donation experiences.
• Reengaging with organ donation through volunteer work fostered positive, permanent, and meaningful transformations for donor families.