Anticipated regret and organ donor registration: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Objective: To test whether simply asking people to rate the extent to which they anticipate feeling regret for not registering as an organ donor after death increases subsequent verified organ donor registration. Methods: 14,509 members of the general public (both registered and non-registered donors) were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 arms, each receiving different questionnaires. The no-questionnaire control (NQC) arm received a survey measuring demographics and whether or not they were registered organ donors. The questionnaire control (QC) arm completed the NQC questions plus questions regarding affective attitudes and intention to register as an organ donor. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) questionnaire arm received the QC questionnaire, plus additional items measuring TPB variables. The anticipated regret (AR) arm received the TPB questionnaire, plus two additional items measuring anticipated regret. The main outcome measures were number of non-donor participants who subsequently registered six months later, as verified by the UK national transplant register. Results: Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis in non-registered donors (N = 9,139) revealed the NQC arm were more likely to register as an organ donor (6.39%) compared to the AR (4.51%) arm. Conclusions: A brief anticipated regret intervention led to a decrease in registration. A potential reason is discussed in terms of questionnaire item content "priming" negative perceptions of organ donation. This is a methodological concern

‘What if I'm not dead?’ – Myth‐busting and organ donation

“…Based on previous research (O'Carroll et al, 2016), it was hypothesized that increasing the salience of emotional barriers towards organ donation, by completing an emotional barriers questionnaire, would decrease intention to donate organs after death. Based on previous research (O'Carroll et al, 2016), it was hypothesized that increasing the salience of emotional barriers towards organ donation, by completing an emotional barriers questionnaire, would decrease intention to donate organs after death.…”

“…The objectives of this research were as follows: (1) to estimate the percentage of the Scottish, English, and Northern Irish population planning to opt-out of the ODR following implementation of proposed opt-out legislation, (2) to test whether emotional barriers (e.g., medical mistrust) differentiate those who plan to opt-out, (3) to extend the findings of previous research (O'Carroll et al, 2016) and test whether making emotional barriers salient following exposure to an emotional barriers questionnaire reduces organ donor intentions, and finally (4) to test the efficacy of a current NHS strategy to reduce organ donation myths, by assessing the impact of a myth-busting intervention on donor intentions. It was hypothesized that (1) participants who plan to opt-out of the donor register will exhibit higher emotional barriers towards organ donation, (2) increasing the salience of these emotional barriers will result in decreased donor intentions, and (3) dispelling organ donation myths will increase donor intentions.…”

“…This research also examined the effect of increasing the salience of emotional barriers and a brief NHS myth-correcting intervention on participants' intention to donate organs. Based on previous research (O'Carroll et al, 2016), it was hypothesized that increasing the salience of emotional barriers towards organ donation, by completing an emotional barriers questionnaire, would decrease intention to donate organs after death. We observed a differential effect and found that counter to expectation; exposure to emotional barriers significantly increased intention to donate for both the opt-in and deemed consent groups.…”

“…However, the authors found that counter to expectation, pilot studies, and existing evidence, (O'Carroll, Dryden, Hamilton-Barclay, & Ferguson, 2011;O'Carroll, Foster, McGeechan, Sandford, & Ferguson, 2011) a brief anticipated regret manipulation led to a decrease in verified organ donor registrations (O'Carroll, Shepherd, Hayes, & Ferguson, 2016). A recent large-scale investigation attempted to increase organ donor registration by manipulating anticipated regret.…”

“…A recent large-scale investigation attempted to increase organ donor registration by manipulating anticipated regret. However, the authors found that counter to expectation, pilot studies, and existing evidence, (O'Carroll, Dryden, Hamilton-Barclay, & Ferguson, 2011;O'Carroll, Foster, McGeechan, Sandford, & Ferguson, 2011) a brief anticipated regret manipulation led to a decrease in verified organ donor registrations (O'Carroll, Shepherd, Hayes, & Ferguson, 2016). Participants in the intervention group also completed questions assessing emotional barriers towards organ donation (e.g., medical mistrust).…”