2013 年 48 巻 2-3 号 p. 141-150
【Objective】The purpose of this study was to clarify the difficulties involved in caring for families of organ donors following cardiac arrest and to investigate countermeasures against the difficulties associated with this situation from the view-points of attending nurses.
【Design】Cross-sectional survey
【Methods】Seventy-five nurses participated in this study. The questionnaire targeting organ coordinators was revised for nurses with help from the Japan Organ Transplant Network. It contains 44 items, an χ2 test was carried out after each item was cross-totalized.
【Results】The difficulties most frequently expressed by nurses were the “Inability to realize that the donor can't recover (47.9%)”; “emotional strain on the family that had to make the final decision, even if it was intended by the donor (47.9%)”; and“ uncertainties about the donor's intention regarding organ donation (39.7%)”. When difficulties in providing support by nurses were compared by classifying the institutes to which they belonged (by such replies as “It is an institute in which organ donation is carried out after brain death,” “No,” and “I don't know”), a significant difference was observed regarding difficulty in providing support toward “uncertainties of the donor's intention regarding organ donation (p=0.004)” and “the emotional strain on the family having to make the final decision, even if it was intended by the donor (p=0.032)”. Nurses who are not in-hospital transplantation coordinators, who have no experience regarding participation in organ transplantation simulations, or who did not know “or observe,” the in-hospital manual experienced more difficulties in supporting families.
【Conclusion】Conditions in which nurses experienced difficulties in caring for the emotions of donor families were clarified. The following means of support seemed effective regarding the preparatory system to reduce difficulties in providing support by nurses toward families: (1) Dissemination of in-hospital manuals to nurses; (2) participation in simulations, and (3) support of the in-hospital transplantation coordinators.
