Organ donation procedures: an epidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of organ and tissue donation processes on family members of deceased donors and the probability that they would be an organ or tissue donor in the future.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of 69 families of deceased donors of the organ procurement organizations of the Federal University of São Paulo.


RESULTS
Donors were predominantly men (57% vs 43%) with a median age of 35.9 years. The primary causes of death were classified as natural (65%), traumatic injury (33%), and other (1%). Of the family members surveyed, 40% had an elementary school education and 59% were unemployed. Family members expressed an understanding of the brain death diagnosis (67%). Among them, 74% had no doubt about brain death and had time to ask questions. The diagnosis was provided by the doctor responsible for the patient (89%). Family members also used funeral aid benefit (63%), perceived organ donation positively (97%), and indicated that they would donate again (79%). A significant relationship was found between families that took advantage of the funeral aid benefit and families that would donate again (79% vs 22%, P = .002).


CONCLUSIONS
The intent to donate organs for transplantation may be based more on moral and cultural factors that go beyond the family members' knowledge about the donation process per se.
Roza
Bartira de Aguiar
Bde A
Albert Einstein Jewish Hospital, Brazil; Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florian6polis, Brazil.
Pestana
José Osmar Medina
JO
Barbosa
Sayonara Fatima Faria
SF
Schirmer
Janine
J
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis; D001938:Brazil; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005655:Funeral Rites / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011632:Public Assistance; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement