title: Exploring families' experiences of an organ donation request after brain death.
abstract: This qualitative research study with a content analysis approach aimed to explore families' experiences of an organ donation request after brain death. Data were collected through 38 unstructured and in-depth interviews with 14 consenting families and 12 who declined to donate organs. A purposeful sampling process began in October 2009 and ended in October 2010. Data analysis reached 10 categories and two major themes were listed as: (1) serenity in eternal freedom; and (2) resentful grief. The central themes were peace and honor versus doubt and regret. The findings indicated that the families faced with an organ donation request of a brain-dead loved one experienced a lasting effect long after the patient's demise regardless of their decision to donate or refusal to donate. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of family support and follow-up in an efficient healthcare system aimed at developing trust with the families and providing comfort during and after the final decision.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences of Tarbiat Modares University, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra Sadat
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Manzari
authors.forename: Eesa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heydari
authors.forename: Hamid Reza Aghamohammadian
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Sharbaf
authors.forename: Mohammad Jafar Modabber
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khaleghi
mesh_terms: D001926:Brain Death; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics*; D035502:Trust