Implementation and Sustainability of European Training Program on Organ Donation in Poland: Results and the Impact on Donation Indicators

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2016-09, Vol.48 (7), p.2429-2433
• Main Authors: Czerwiński, J, Jakubowska-Winecka, A, Woderska, A, Wilk, J, Łebkowski, W, Bohatyrewicz, R, Krawulska-Biegańska, A, Iwańczuk, W, Czapiewski, W, Kubik, T, Becler, R, Patrzałek, D, Zielińska, D, Danielewicz, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Hospitals - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Inservice Training; Medical Staff, Hospital - education; Poland; Surgery; Tissue and Organ Procurement - organization & administration; Tissue and Organ Procurement - statistics & numerical data; Tissue Donors - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.12.144

Abstract Background Hospital training called ETPOD—Essentials in Organ Donation—was introduced in Poland in 31 hospitals with under-utilized potential of donation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect in hospitals included and not included in program, before and after trainings. Methods The number of potential and effective donors, organs used, and number (%) of family refusals were compared at 10 and in 20 months after the training and in equal periods before. Results In trained hospitals, the number of potential donors increased (17% in 10 months, 10% in 20 months); in remaining hospitals, donors increased in 5% in both periods. In hospitals included in ETPOD, the number of effective donors increased (2% and 4.5%); in the whole country, donors also increased (5.6% and 2.7%). In ETPOD hospitals, the number of utilized organs increased (14.5% and 8.5%); in the rest, the increase was 3% and 7%. In trained hospitals, family refusals increased from 6.9% to 16.2% and from 8.9% to 10.7%; in the whole country, family refusals decreased from 11.7% to 11% in the short term and increased from 9.6% to 12.1% in the long term. Conclusions In hospitals involved in the ETPOD program, the increase in organ donation is greater than in the rest of hospitals. Distinct benefit was observed in consent to organ donation.