Factors influencing the relatives decision regarding organ donation in interaction with the intensive care nurses - a meta-synthesis

Abstract

Background. Studies and statistics worldwide have shown that the demand for organs is greater than the supply. Evaluates how the intensive care nurses’ interaction with relatives can affect the statistics on organ donation. Aim. To explore and identify factors potentially affecting relatives’decision regarding organ donation in interaction with the intensive care nurses.Method. A systematic review of qualitative research using meta-ethnography. It included research from 2005-2015. Ten research articles were included and synthesised. Results.Four main factors were identified as affecting organ donation decision-making: Comprehension of Brain Death, Decedents Wishes, Organisational Factors and Perceptions and Attitudes. A major contributing factor appeared to be intensive care nurses lack of education, continuous training and exposure to donor patients. Conclusion. The meta-synthesis gave a clear picture of the main factors affecting relatives’ decision. In addition, the educational needs of intensive care nurses as a profession and the public in general were identified. Implications for practice. The identification of the factors, affecting the relatives’decision, can be essential for further research and development of educational and in hospital continuous training of intensive care nurses’ communication skills. It can also direct focus towards the need and development of targeted organ donor campaigns for the general.