Bein, T. and Kuhr, L. P. and Kramer, B. K. and von Kramolin, M. and Anthuber, M. (2003) Brain death and organ donation: attitudes, behaviour and psychological involvement of intensive care staff. ANASTHESIOLOGIE & INTENSIVMEDIZIN, 44 (6). pp. 429-434. ISSN 0170-5334
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Background: Although there is an increasing demand for organs to treat patients with end-stage disease, transplantation continues to be restricted by a limited supply of donor organs. Since the nurses and physicians in the intensive care units act as "gatekeepers" for organ donation, it was the purpose of this study to assess their personal attitudes, behaviour and psychological involvement regarding brain death and organ donation using an 18-item questionnaire. Method: The questionnaire was presented to 236 members of the nursing and medical staff of 5 intensive care units (72 beds) at our university hospital. Results: The response rate was 55%. Most participants held positive attitudes toward organ donation, 70% indicated that they would be willing to donate their organs after death, and 56% stated that they had a donor card. The answers revealed that the issue of organ donation places similar psychological stress on physicians and nursing staff, and the emotional involvement does not become less with increasing professional experience. Many of the participants feel insufficiently trained, and 42% of them believe that there is a lack of adequate care for the relatives on the intensive care units. More than 70% of the respondents would like to receive special training focussed on brain death estimation, communication with the relatives, and procurement of donor organs. Conclusion: Intensive care staff holds positive attitudes toward organ donation, but experiences high levels of psychological stress while working with brain-dead patients and caring for the relatives. Systematic further education and training as desired by the staff itself may help to reduce the emotional stress and improve the individual motivation to contribute to the identification of potential organ donors.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | PROCUREMENT; GERMANY; UNIT; organ donation; brain death; staff attitude; psychological stress; intensive care units |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Anästhesiologie Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin II |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Sep 2021 05:52 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2021 05:52 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/38909 |
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