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The following is a summary of “Family concerns in organ donor conversations: a qualitative embedded multiple-case study,” published in the December 2024 issue of Critical Care by Oosterhout et al.
Addressing family concerns during organ and tissue donation is widely regarded as essential; however, it has not been studied in real-time scenarios.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to determine the family concerns that emerged during the organ donation process, how these concerns were manifested, and how clinicians responded during the donor conversation.
They performed a qualitative study across 8 Dutch hospitals. Thematic analysis was applied to audio recordings and direct observations of 29 donor conversations, as well as interviews with 24 family members (n = 24) involved in the process.
The results showed that concerns were grouped into 6 topics: death of a relative, dying well, donation-related tensions and fears, experiences of time, procedural clarity, and involvement of family members (both present and absent). Most concerns were related to the first 2 topics. Clinicians generally addressed concerns by providing information or rapid solutions, though sometimes acknowledgment was sufficient. In emotionally charged situations, clinicians’ responses were less aligned with families’ needs. Concerns that were less clearly expressed received minimal follow-up, often resulting in lingering or resurfacing issues.
Investigators concluded the identified concerns, mainly those less clearly articulated, should guide clinicians to adopt a curious and probing approach to enhance family support dialogues, clarify problems, and determine the family’s informational needs.
Source: ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13054-024-05198-2
