THE STABILITY OF FAMILY DECISIONS TO CONSENT OR REFUSE ORGAN DONATION- WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN

Objective: Past organ donation research has studied attitudes toward d onation, predictors of signing donor cards, and distinguishing charact eristics of donors vs. nondonors. The current study is the first to ex amine predictors of family members's satisfaction with the decision to consent or refuse donation of a dying loved one's organs or tissue. M ethod: This study surveyed 225 family members who had been approached to donate the organs or tissue of a dying loved one. Participants were surveyed about demographic characteristics, medical/hospital factors, previous knowledge of transplantation, the request process, religion, and characteristics of the deceased and of the recipient. Discriminan t analyses were conducted to characterize four specific groups: a) don ors who would donate again; b) donors who would not donate again; c) n ondonors who would now donate; and d) nondonors who still would not do nate. Results: Three significant discriminant functions emerged, discr iminating donors from nondonors, those who were satisfied with their d ecision from those who were not, and people who would now donate from those who would not. Donation was predicted by formal education, being married, volunteerism, signing donor cards, and having personal conve rsations about donation. Subsequent satisfaction was predicted by comf ort and confidence during the decision-making process, familiarity wit h medical center, and understanding of brain death. A willingness to n ow donate was predicted by personal discussions about donation. Conclu sions: People should be encouraged not only to sign donor cards, but t o have discussions with family about wishes. Individuals should be enc ouraged to seek the help of family and friends during the decision, an d be aware of the need of social support from family and friends durin g and after the decision.