INTRODUCTION: Because of the gap between the high need for cornea tissue for transplantation and the current lower numbers of donors, there is high pressure to succeed in telephone calls to relatives of deceased for obtaining consent. Besides the attempt to increase the rate of donors, these telephone calls should be gentle for relatives and not overstrain professionals. This study assesses the need and expectations of physicians towards communication training in preparation for their task. METHODS: In September-October 2009 a needs assessment for communication training among physicians who currently work or have worked for the eye bank took place. Personal data were recorded and their estimate of the perceived burden as well as needs and potential benefits from a specific communication training for obtaining consent for cornea donation by telephone were assessed using numeric rating scales between 1 (minimum) and 10 (maximum). Results were expressed as mean and range. RESULTS: The participants felt only moderately prepared for the task regarding information content, their emotions and personal convictions. They considered a specific training to be highly meaningful, necessary and helpful. Their highest burden during telephone calls previously experienced was documented as 8.4 and the average burden as 6.3. Accordingly, their willingness to continue working at an eye bank after their rotation was moderate. DISCUSSION: Physicians involved in obtaining consent for cornea donation by telephone feel highly stressed and only moderately prepared for fulfilling the task both for the information content and on the emotional level. Accordingly, specific communication training is perceived as highly meaningful, necessary and helpful. An educational program was developed to meet the needs and expectations of physicians.
INTRODUCTION: Because of the gap between the high need for cornea tissue for transplantation and the current lower numbers of donors, there is high pressure to succeed in telephone calls to relatives of deceased for obtaining consent. Besides the attempt to increase the rate of donors, these telephone calls should be gentle for relatives and not overstrain professionals. This study assesses the need and expectations of physicians towards communication training in preparation for their task. METHODS: In September-October 2009 a needs assessment for communication training among physicians who currently work or have worked for the eye bank took place. Personal data were recorded and their estimate of the perceived burden as well as needs and potential benefits from a specific communication training for obtaining consent for cornea donation by telephone were assessed using numeric rating scales between 1 (minimum) and 10 (maximum). Results were expressed as mean and range. RESULTS: The participants felt only moderately prepared for the task regarding information content, their emotions and personal convictions. They considered a specific training to be highly meaningful, necessary and helpful. Their highest burden during telephone calls previously experienced was documented as 8.4 and the average burden as 6.3. Accordingly, their willingness to continue working at an eye bank after their rotation was moderate. DISCUSSION: Physicians involved in obtaining consent for cornea donation by telephone feel highly stressed and only moderately prepared for fulfilling the task both for the information content and on the emotional level. Accordingly, specific communication training is perceived as highly meaningful, necessary and helpful. An educational program was developed to meet the needs and expectations of physicians.
Authors: Philippe Gain; Gilles Thuret; Jean Loup Pugniet; Patricia Rizzi; Sophie Acquart; Jean Claude Le Petit; Jean Maugery Journal: Transplantation Date: 2002-03-27 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: C E Uhlig; R Koch; J Promesberger; G Hirschfeld; H Schmidt; B Seitz; T Reinhard; D Böhringer Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2014-09-20 Impact factor: 3.117