J Korean Soc Transplant.  2012 Jun;26(2):101-111.

Preliminary Results of Donor Action in Korea

• Park SJ
• Yoon YC
• Cho WH
• Roels L
• Smits J
• Cohen B
• Kim NY
• Bok CH
• Kang SW
• Kim TH
• Lee HS
• Kim YH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Donor Action (DA) is a well-known program used to evaluate the potential of organ donors and to survey hospital attitudes toward organ donation in a region or nation. DA has not yet been fully implemented in Korea.
METHODS
We collected medical information on expired patients from 9 hospitals in Yeoung-nam province. We also passed out Hospital Attitude Survey questionnaires in those same 9 hospitals. We reviewed the medical records of the expired patients in the neurological and neurosurgical critical care units from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. Data was analyzed with a DA system database.
RESULTS
A total of 704 patients were enrolled. Altogether, 307 patients (43.6%) were potential donors, and 26 patients (6.5%) were reported to an to organ procurement organization. Among the potential donors, a family approach was taken with 33 patients (10.7%), and family consent was obtained in 26 cases (8.5%). Organ donation was done with 24 patients (7.8%). Among the potential donors, 88.6% of them were not identified as potential donors. Hospital attitude surveys were given to 417 hospital staff members. A positive attitude towards organ donation was shown in 85%. However, only 55.4% of hospital staff agreed on the concept of brain death.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the processes of organ donation, identifying a potential donor is a critical step to increase organ donation.

Keyword

Tissue donors; Tissue and organ procurement; Transplantation

MeSH Terms

Brain
Critical Care
Humans
Korea
Medical Records
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tissue and Organ Procurement
Tissue Donors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A breakdown diagram of medical record review according to donation pathway.

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  Fig. 2 Vocation and age distribution of respondents.

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  Fig. 3 Attitudes toward the definition of brain death.

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  Fig. 4 Atittudes toward organ donation and tissue donation.

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  Fig. 5 Feeling comfortable with donation related tasks (Do you feel comfortable in the following situations?).

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  Fig. 6 Self reported confidence levels with regard to donation related tasks (Do you feel you have necessary competence or necessary knowledge to?).

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  Fig. 7 Educational needs with regard to donation related tasks.

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