title: Experiences of the families concerning organ donation of a family member with brain death.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the lack of organ for transplantation has resulted in health planners and authorities in all countries, including Iran, paying serious attention to the issue. Despite the above-mentioned fact, families with a member affected by brain death are not interested in organ donation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study is aimed at making an investigation into the decision-making process of organ donation in families with brain death. Also, the research is aimed at investigating how the deterrent and facilitating factors in the process of organ donation can be made.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current research is a qualitative study with descriptive exploratory approach. Data were collected through unstructured interviews with 10 family members who gave consent to organ donation of their family members in 2012. Purposeful sampling processes began in March 2012 and lasted up to June 2012. Simultaneously, thematic approach was used in analyzing the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis led to finding 24 categories and 11 themes, which fell into two categories: facilitating and deterrent factors. The five main deterrent themes included the five themes of prohibiting factors that were shock, hope for recovery, unknown process, and conflict of opinions, and worrying association. The six main facilitating themes included humanistic desires, immortality, culture making, satisfaction of the deceased, assurance, and eternal honor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicated that there is ambiguity and different interpretations on brain death. The research also showed that using the experiences of donator families can provide practical and applied solutions to facilitate the process of organ donation and solve the problems faced by the health care system.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Adult Nursing, School of nursing and midwifery Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hojatollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yousefi
authors.affiliation: Eisabne-Maryam Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Asieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roshani
authors.affiliation: Academic Member, Department of Adult Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nazari
keywords: Brain death; family; organ donation