Facilitators and Barriers to Donor Detection Based on Hospital Staff Opinions in Different Hospitals

ackground: Donor detection is the first step of organ procurement for transplantation, and about 50% of all potential donors are not detected. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the facilitators and barriers to donor detection based on hospital characteristics and staff opinions. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a 16-item questionnaire was prepared to clarify medical staff opinions about facilitators (10 items) and barriers (6 items) to potential donor detection. The questionnaire was distributed on social networks, and all medical staff members were invited to participate in the study. Results: A total of 230 medical staff participated in this study. From their point of view, the main facilitator was active detection via regular daily phone calls (150, 65.2%), which had the most advocators among medical staff of public (64.1%) and private hospitals (74.5%). Detection by donor coordinators or inspectors tanked the second (103, 44.8%). Moreover, private hospitals highly agreed with detection by donor coordinators and inspectors in 66.7% and 60.8% of cases, respectively. Donor detection by an in-hospital-coordinator was recommended by 42.6% of all 230 participants, with most advocators among those affiliated with an organization (65.4%). Staff opinions about donor selection and care to donor families were important barriers according to 53.5% and 46.1% of subjects, respectively. Conclusion: To identify all potential donors, different strategies are necessary according to hospital characteristics. In public hospitals, daily calls; in private ones, active visits; and in an-organization-related hospitals, in-hospital coordinators could be effective.