FACTORS AFFECTING CONSENT BY FAMILIES FOR BEATING HEART ORGAN DONORS-A PILOT STUDY, AT HEART TRANSPLANT DEPARTMENT OF AFIC-NIHD

Abstract

Objective: To study the response of donor families regarding beating heart organ
donation and document effect of counseling, education and residence on
consent.
Methodology: This Quasi experimental Study was conducted from 1st June
st 2011 to 1 December 2012 at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology-National
Institute of Heart Diseases and three donor hospitals of Rawalpindi. Donor
families were approached by psychologist. Effect of counseling, education,
residence and reasons for refusal were documented.
Results: 27 donors were offered in 18 months with mean age of 28.22 ± 8.86
years. 88.9% (n=23) were males and rest were females. 16 (59.2%) had a
history of road traffic accident and 7 (25.92%) presented after fall. About 48%
(n=13) belonged to urban areas and rest to rural. 9 (33%) families were
uneducated, 8 (30%) didn't complete secondary school and 10 (37%) had
completed secondary school or higher school. First response to organ donation
was yes in 1; no in 24 where as 2 families became aggressive. After counseling 1
family agreed to donation and 6 agreed to concept of donation but didn't donate.
37.4% (n=10) families didn't accept the brain death. In 9 families 14.8% (n=4)
considered it un-Islamic, 11.1% (n=3) considered it will mutilate body, 7.4%
(n=2) remained aggressive. Education was statistically significant for consent
(p=0.049) whereas area of residence was not (p= 0.33).
Conclusion: Our study shows that counseling and education of families of heart
organs donors are important factors affecting consenting process.