Transplant procurement management: a training tool to increase donation

Chinese Efforts to Pursue Effective Communication With Family of Potential Organ and Tissue Donor

Within the last decade, deceased organ donation and transplantation in China have made great progress, but there is still much room for improvement. Inefficient communication with the family of potential organ and tissue donors is one of the major reasons for donor loss. In this study, the current progress of the deceased organ donation program in China was summarized, with a particular focus on the analysis of problems and solutions for achieving best practices in communication with the family of potential organ and tissue donors. This paper is in compliance with the Helsinki Congress and the Declaration of Istanbul.

Organ procurement: Spanish transplant procurement management

Transplantation is an accepted therapeutic option to save or improve the quality of life when organ failure occurs or tissue replacements are needed. However, the lack of organs is the major limitation. The deceased organ procurement organization and professionals provide the solution to this international problem. In this review, we identify the elements involved in the organ procurement management process to analyze the possibility of implementation of deceased organ procurement for a transplantation program. While the donation rates are subject to several negative factors including religious, economic, cultural, and legal issues, the existence of well-trained professionals may considerably increase them. Professional training in organ donation along with the establishment of a solid organizational system has been identified as the crucial factor in developing efficient organ donation and transplantation programs.

Transplant coordination in Russia: first experience

Russian transplantology is quite far from first place in the world. The post-Soviet mistrust to social and medical service resulted in dramatic reduction of transplantations in some regions of Russia during the last 10 years. The level of organ donation depends on public trust and a proper form of the donation process. The reasons for the organ donation crisis are well known. First, it is the so-called "command form of organ donation" inherited from the Soviet medical system. The longtime model of obtaining donor organs from deceased individuals caused negative public opinion. Organ donation was considered to be an activity that violated the dead and living rights. As a result, we need new forms of professional collaboration between transplantologists and intensive care unit specialists. The northwest Region of Russia created the first model of transplant coordination in 2006. There were regional transplant coordinators (as a part of a procurement center) and local (hospitals) coordinators. During 2006, this initiative was emotional and enthusiastic; after 2007, this initiative received financial support from the local government. As a result, there is an increasing number and changing quality of organ donations. In 2007, the total number of organ donors in Saint Petersburg now is 8.7 per million compared with 2.5 per million in 2005.

Evaluation of transplant procurement management courses: an educational project as a tool for the optimization of transplant coordination

The process of obtaining organs and tissues includes a series of procedures and skills that are fundamental to obtain a large number and high quality of transplants. Health professionals involved in transplant coordination require robest and comprehensive training to integrate the donation-transplantation process within the clinical health care field. Based on a learning-through-experience model, Transplant Procurement Management (TPM) designed various courses adapted to local educational need to train transplant coordinators, to increase active donor detection, and to promote a positive attitude towards donation; namely, Advanced, Introductory and New Life Cycle courses respectively. Moreover, TPM has coordinated international programs (INTERCATT and INTERITALY). Since 1991, the model has included 29 Advanced courses (1215 participants), 22 Introductory courses (575 pupils), and 7 New Life Cycle courses (more than 400 attendees). The Advanced courses were attended by medical (intensive care unit, nephrology, and others) and nursing professionals. Assessment of the educational program showed achievement of teaching objectives. The evaluation averages above 3.5 (scale, 1-5) for content, presentation, and ability to answer questions. Likewise, the program's organization showed an average score of 4.4. The acquired knowledge was assessed by means of a self-evaluation test (correct answers >69%). Practical skills assessed through direct observation showed an average of 7 (scale, 1-10). The TPM educational program offers a range of necessary knowledge and skills to increase organ donation. Health professionals concerned about the organ shortage may find TPM training useful to increase their knowledge.