Construct a digital psychological intervention program for organ donor families: An Intervention mapping study

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health
• Psychological interventions
• Grief and bereavement research

Background:

• Organ donor families face significant psychological distress, including symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
• Trait mindfulness is negatively correlated with these adverse psychological outcomes.
• Existing psychological support may not adequately address the unique needs of organ donor families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a digital psychological intervention program for organ donor families using the Intervention Mapping framework.
• To address the identified psychological distress and support needs of this population.
• To create a structured, theory- and evidence-informed intervention.

Main Methods:

• Intervention Mapping framework guided the development process.
• Literature review, surveys, and qualitative interviews informed needs assessment.
• Expert panel review and refinement ensured program quality and relevance.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of organ donor families (25.81%) reported co-occurring PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms.
• Qualitative data revealed key themes related to awareness, distress, support access, and intervention preferences.
• An 8-week digital intervention, integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, was developed and refined.

Conclusions:

• The developed digital intervention provides a structured framework for supporting organ donor families.
• This program offers a foundation for future pilot testing and refinement.
• It represents a potential strategy for enhancing digital mental health support for organ donor families.