Organ Donation Motivators and Demotivators Among Families of Brain-Dead Patients in Southeast Iran: A Qualitative...

Cultural, social, and religious factors play an important role in the decision-making of families of patients with brain death regarding organ donation.

This study was conducted to identify the organ donation motivators and demotivators among the families of brain-dead patients in Southeast Iran.

This qualitative study employed a conventional content analysis approach. Eleven family members of brain-dead patients who had consented to organ donation participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews.

A total of 241 codes, 19 sub-subcategories, 8 subcategories, 2 primary categories, and one main category were identified. The main category derived was "Difficult dilemma" which included two primary categories: "Organ donation motivators" and "Organ donation demotivators" The primary category "Organ donation motivators" comprised subcategories such as "Discussing donation considerably," "Patient's wishes awareness," "Emotional/psychological support," "Considering donation reasonable," and "Considering donation valuable." The primary category "Organ donation demotivators" consisted of subcategories such as "Discussing donation inconsiderately," "Distrust in providers," and "Considering donation unfavorably." The findings indicate that the decision to donate organs is not solely an individual choice, but rather the outcome of an interplay between psychological and social factors. In this context, both motivating and demotivating influences interact and exert mutual effects.

Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that healthcare professionals improve and professionalize their communication with families to encourage them to make informed decisions to donate organs of patients with brain death. Additionally, the role of the media in raising public awareness should be emphasized, religious leaders should take a more active role, and further studies should be conducted in this field.