Introduction: The organ donation process is complex and stressful for the family of the donor. Nevertheless, little is known about how to care donor families throughout organ donation process in Japan, probably because there have been only a fewer deceased organ donors every year than other developed countries. The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between family support practice in organ donation and training experience on grief care, communication skills, etc of the in-hospital coordinators (IHCos) in family care in Japan
Method: A 68-question survey was distributed through Google Forms to 583 IHCos of 108 hospitals with emergency and/or intensive care division in 6 prefectures (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama and Shiga), Japan through the prefectural donor coordinators. It consisted of various sections aiming to evaluate differences among physicians, nurses and others in 1) their experience having deceased organ donation, 2) their experience receiving lectures or training on organ donation, communication skills, family care, advanced care planning and grief care and 3) 45 items of family care. Respondents' anonymity was ensured.
Results: 31 IHCos responded to the questionnaire for a 5.3 % response rate. The responders were nurses in 18, physicians in 5 and others in 8. Only one was a full-time IHCo. Regardless of their occupation, their experience of deceased organ donation was significantly related to “experience of lectures or training on organ donation” and “initiation of family care from obtaining their consent for organ donation”. Although only 21 responders (67.7%) had experience learning grief care, regardless of their occupation, the responders who had experience learning grief care answered the greatest number of items of family care (4 of 7 items regarding “construction of relationship of trust”, 4 of 6 items regarding “support to express their grief feelings”, 3 of 4 items regarding “support to understand current status and deepen”, 2 of 5 items regarding “adjusting the environment to be able to spend time with the patient”, 1 of 4 items regarding “information of current treatment and care of the patient”, 4 of 5 items regarding “relationship between family and medical staffs”, 3 of 7 items regarding “promotion of physical and psychological well-being”, and 5 of 7 items regarding “decision support regarding organ donation”). Compared to other professions, nurses and doctors performed significantly more items of “specifically explains the purpose, effects, and reactions of the treatment and care being given to the patient" and “informs the patient that the best possible treatment and care is being given"
Conclusion: Regardless of their occupation, IHCos who had experience learning grief care had the greatest number of items regarding family care during organ donation including family decision support regarding organ donation. Experience learning grief care is important for family grief care as well as family decision making regarding organ donation.