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Family Perception of the Process of Organ Donation. Qualitative Psychosocial Analysis of the Subjective Interpretation of Donor and Nondonor Families

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Jorge S. López Martínez ,
María Jesús Martín López ,
Barbara Scandroglio  and
José Manuel Martínez García
Jorge S. López Martínez
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
María Jesús Martín López
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Barbara Scandroglio
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
José Manuel Martínez García*
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to: José Manuel Martínez García, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Psicología, Ciudad Universitaria Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: josemanuel.martinez@uam.es
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Abstract

Family perception of organ donation has been explored by numerous authors using statements by the people who decided whether or not to donate the organs of a relative in a situation of brain death. Within this tradition, in this work, we analyze the discourse of six families who granted permission for organ donation and three who refused. We describe the process-based interpretation of this experience and identify psychosocial variables and processes that further our understanding of the decision finally adopted. We have identified two heuristics that guide family decision when organ donation is requested: the explicit or inferred will of the deceased and family attitudes to organ donation and transplant. It is postulated that the interaction of these two factors explains a large amount of the decisions made. We also hypothesize that a marked discrepancy between these two factors increases the importance of other aspects, especially the role of the transplant coordinator and of other healthcare personnel. These results support, at a social level, the implementation of transplant promotion programs; and at a healthcare level, the combined use of techniques of crisis intervention and attitude change.

El estudio de la percepción familiar sobre donación de órganos ha sido abordado por numerosos autores partiendo de declaraciones de personas que habían decidido si donaban los órganos de un familiar en situación de muerte cerebral. Inserto en esta tradición, este trabajo analiza cualitativamente el discurso de seis familias que concedieron la donación de órganos y de tres que la denegaron. Describe la interpretación procesal de esta experiencia e identifica variables y procesos psicosociales que permitan comprender la decisión adoptada. Se identifican dos heurísticos que orientan la decisión familiar ante la petición de donación de órganos: la voluntad manifestada o inferida del fallecido y las actitudes familiares hacia la donación y el trasplante de órganos de los decisores; se postula que la interacción de ambos explica una parte significativa de las decisiones adoptadas. También se hipotetiza que una fuerte discrepancia entre estos dos procesos favorece que otros factores (especialmente la actuación del coordinador de trasplantes y del personal sanitario) adquieran mayor importancia en la decisión familiar. Los resultados apoyan, a nivel social, la aplicación de programas de promoción del trasplante y, a nivel hospitalario, la aplicación de intervenciones que integren técnicas de intervención en crisis y de persuasión y cambio de actitudes.

Keywords

qualitative studyorgan donationperceptionfamiliesinterviewestudio cualitativodonación de órganospercepciónfamiliasentrevista
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , May 2008 , pp. 125 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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