Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysis

Objectives Organ procurement coordinators (OPCs) play a pivotal role in navigating end-of-life and second-birth narratives by securing familial consent for solid organ donation. Given the low rates of cadaveric organ donation in Türkiye and worldwide, OPCs are essential in advocating for and facilit...

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Main Authors: Hi̇cran Karataş, Şener Balas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-04-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/4/e096403.full
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author Hi̇cran Karataş
Şener Balas
author_facet Hi̇cran Karataş
Şener Balas
author_sort Hi̇cran Karataş
collection DOAJ
description Objectives Organ procurement coordinators (OPCs) play a pivotal role in navigating end-of-life and second-birth narratives by securing familial consent for solid organ donation. Given the low rates of cadaveric organ donation in Türkiye and worldwide, OPCs are essential in advocating for and facilitating these donations. This study explores the reasons for refusal that OPCs have encountered during the familial consent process.Design We gathered the data through semistructured interviews with 30 OPCs. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse key themes, with a specific focus on cultural, religious, spiritual and folkloric barriers contributing to the low rates of cadaveric organ donation in Türkiye.Setting Hospitals and organ transplant centres operating under the jurisdiction of the Ankara Regional Coordination Centre in Türkiye.Participants Participants were recruited using a purposeful random sampling strategy to enhance credibility and reduce bias. Eligible informants included OPCs with at least 2 years of experience in the role. Among the 30 participants, 18 were based in central organ transplant centres associated with Training and Research Hospitals in Ankara, and 12 were from peripheral city hospitals.Results Coordinators identified five main barriers that hinder their ability to secure familial consent for cadaveric organ donation: (1) religion, (2) concerns about the wishes of the deceased, (3) desire to choose recipients, (4) familial dynamics and (5) folklore. Each category was further contextualised through subcategories derived from the frequency and nuances of recurring themes.Conclusion OPCs face significant challenges in promoting cadaveric organ donations due to cultural barriers. Their experiences underscore the need for culturally competent approaches in organ donation campaigns and the importance of supporting coordinators in their roles. Enhanced cultural understanding and targeted interventions could improve cadaveric organ donation rates.
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spelling doaj-art-821015771fac4ec59d28bf78eeb8056c2025-08-20T02:10:44ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-04-0115410.1136/bmjopen-2024-096403Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysisHi̇cran Karataş0Şener Balas1Sociology, Bartın University, Bartın, TürkiyeTransplant Surgery Center, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, TürkiyeObjectives Organ procurement coordinators (OPCs) play a pivotal role in navigating end-of-life and second-birth narratives by securing familial consent for solid organ donation. Given the low rates of cadaveric organ donation in Türkiye and worldwide, OPCs are essential in advocating for and facilitating these donations. This study explores the reasons for refusal that OPCs have encountered during the familial consent process.Design We gathered the data through semistructured interviews with 30 OPCs. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse key themes, with a specific focus on cultural, religious, spiritual and folkloric barriers contributing to the low rates of cadaveric organ donation in Türkiye.Setting Hospitals and organ transplant centres operating under the jurisdiction of the Ankara Regional Coordination Centre in Türkiye.Participants Participants were recruited using a purposeful random sampling strategy to enhance credibility and reduce bias. Eligible informants included OPCs with at least 2 years of experience in the role. Among the 30 participants, 18 were based in central organ transplant centres associated with Training and Research Hospitals in Ankara, and 12 were from peripheral city hospitals.Results Coordinators identified five main barriers that hinder their ability to secure familial consent for cadaveric organ donation: (1) religion, (2) concerns about the wishes of the deceased, (3) desire to choose recipients, (4) familial dynamics and (5) folklore. Each category was further contextualised through subcategories derived from the frequency and nuances of recurring themes.Conclusion OPCs face significant challenges in promoting cadaveric organ donations due to cultural barriers. Their experiences underscore the need for culturally competent approaches in organ donation campaigns and the importance of supporting coordinators in their roles. Enhanced cultural understanding and targeted interventions could improve cadaveric organ donation rates.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/4/e096403.full
spellingShingle Hi̇cran Karataş
Şener Balas
Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysis
BMJ Open
title Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysis
title_full Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysis
title_fullStr Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysis
title_full_unstemmed Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysis
title_short Organ procurement coordinators’ experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation: a qualitative analysis
title_sort organ procurement coordinators experiences with family refusals in cadaveric organ donation a qualitative analysis
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/4/e096403.full
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