J Daryl Thornton1, J Randall Curtis, Margaret D Allen. 1. Center for Reducing Health Disparities, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, MetroHealth Campus of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA. daryl.thornton@case.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: Among the general population, discussing organ donation with a primary care provider may be associated with increased willingness to donate. However, the frequency with which primary care providers hold these discussions with their patients has not been reported. SETTING: Cross-sectional mail and an Internet survey of validated questions regarding organ donation were done. SUBJECTS: A national sample of 831 primary care physicians. black, and Hispanic physicians were oversampled. RESULTS: Few physicians reported receiving formal training in donation (17%). Only 5% of physicians have donor cards available in their practice, and only 11% have donation information available in their practice. While 30% of physicians reported discussing end-of-life care with their patients, fewer than 4% reported discussing donation with their patients. However, only 36% felt that discussing donation was outside of their scope of practice. In a multivariate regression model, predictors of discussing donation with patients included having received formal education about organ donation (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; p < .05) and discussing end-of-life care with patients (OR, 12.8; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Very few primary care physicians reported discussing organ donation with their patients despite the majority agreeing that it was within their scope of practice. Primary care physicians who had received education on the subject or who regularly discuss end-of-life care with their patients were more likely to discuss donation. Efforts to improve donation in the general population should include a focus on understanding and improving communication about organ donation between providers and their patients.
PURPOSE: Among the general population, discussing organ donation with a primary care provider may be associated with increased willingness to donate. However, the frequency with which primary care providers hold these discussions with their patients has not been reported. SETTING: Cross-sectional mail and an Internet survey of validated questions regarding organ donation were done. SUBJECTS: A national sample of 831 primary care physicians. black, and Hispanic physicians were oversampled. RESULTS: Few physicians reported receiving formal training in donation (17%). Only 5% of physicians have donor cards available in their practice, and only 11% have donation information available in their practice. While 30% of physicians reported discussing end-of-life care with their patients, fewer than 4% reported discussing donation with their patients. However, only 36% felt that discussing donation was outside of their scope of practice. In a multivariate regression model, predictors of discussing donation with patients included having received formal education about organ donation (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; p < .05) and discussing end-of-life care with patients (OR, 12.8; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Very few primary care physicians reported discussing organ donation with their patients despite the majority agreeing that it was within their scope of practice. Primary care physicians who had received education on the subject or who regularly discuss end-of-life care with their patients were more likely to discuss donation. Efforts to improve donation in the general population should include a focus on understanding and improving communication about organ donation between providers and their patients.
Authors: S L Gortmaker; C L Beasley; E Sheehy; B A Lucas; L E Brigham; A Grenvik; R H Patterson; N Garrison; P McNamara; M J Evanisko Journal: J Transpl Coord Date: 1998-12
Authors: Elke S Schaeffner; Wolfram Windisch; Klaus Freidel; Kristin Breitenfeldt; Wolfgang C Winkelmayer Journal: Transplantation Date: 2004-06-15 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Alexi A Wright; Baohui Zhang; Alaka Ray; Jennifer W Mack; Elizabeth Trice; Tracy Balboni; Susan L Mitchell; Vicki A Jackson; Susan D Block; Paul K Maciejewski; Holly G Prigerson Journal: JAMA Date: 2008-10-08 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: J Daryl Thornton; Catherine Sullivan; Jeffrey M Albert; Maria Cedeño; Bridget Patrick; Julie Pencak; Kristine A Wong; Margaret D Allen; Linda Kimble; Heather Mekesa; Gordon Bowen; Ashwini R Sehgal Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2016-08 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Alvin H Li; Amit X Garg; Versha Prakash; Jeremy M Grimshaw; Monica Taljaard; Joanna Mitchell; Danny Matti; Stefanie Linklater; Kyla L Naylor; Stephanie Dixon; Cathy Faulds; Rachel Bevan; Leah Getchell; Greg Knoll; S Joseph Kim; Jessica Sontrop; Lise M Bjerre; Allison Tong; Justin Presseau Journal: Trials Date: 2017-12-21 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Vanesa Romina Ruiz; Sergio Adrián Terrasa; Susana Bauque; Pablo Ezequiel Rodriguez; Verónica Celia Morozovsky; Alejandro Gabriel Da Lozzo; Alejandro Daniel Midley Journal: Rev Bras Ter Intensiva Date: 2022-01-24