Randomised, Double Blind, Controlled Trial of the Provision of Information about the Benefits of Organ Donation during a Family Donation Conversation.
BACKGROUND
It is unclear how much information should be provided to families of potential organ donors about the benefits of organ donation. Whilst this information is material to the donation decision, it may also be perceived as coercive.


METHODS
Randomised, double blind, controlled trial in which community members watched one of two videos of a simulated organ donation conversation that differed only in the amount of information provided about the benefits of donation. Participants then completed a questionnaire about the adequacy of the information provided and the degree to which they felt the doctor was trying to convince the family member to say yes to donation.


RESULTS
There was a wide variability in what participants considered was the "right" amount of information about organ donation. Those who watched the conversation that included information about the benefits of donation were more likely to feel that the information provided to the family was sufficient. They were more likely to report that the doctor was trying to convince the family member to say yes to donation, yet were no more likely to feel uncomfortable or to feel that the doctor was uncaring or cared more about transplant recipients than he did for the patient and their family.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that community members are comfortable with health care staff providing information to family members that may be influential in supporting them to give consent for donation.
Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|DonateLife Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Steve John
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6091-9495
SJ
Philpot
DonateLife Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Sarah
S
Aranha
Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|DonateLife Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
David V
DV
Pilcher
Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Michael
M
Bailey
D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement