Knowledge and Attitude Towards Organ Donation in Muslim Patients and Their Families in Hospice Care: A Pakistani Perspective (S780)

Abstract

ObjectivesDiscuss the impact of religious and cultural factors on reluctance to organ donation in hospice patients and their families.Recognize the lack of discussions about organ donations between hospice staff and the hospice patients or their families. Original Research Background. Organ donation occurs infrequently within palliative care. Cultural and religious beliefs may have a major impact on willingness to organ donation in hospice care. Research Objectives. To (1) Assess knowledge of hospice patients and their families about organ donation (2) Factors associated with willingness or reluctance to donation (3) Survey the discussion of organ donation between patients with the hospice staff. Methods. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of hospice care patients and their families.154 patients or their families in a tertiary care hospital completed the questionnaire.Results. 78% (120/154) of patients (or the families) were aware of some form of organ donation but only 14.9% (23/154) thought that they were fit enough for some kind of organ donation and only one family was willing for corneal donation. Factors associated with such high level of reluctance were family perception that donation would add to misery of the patient, religion, lack of awareness of importance of donation, and culture-specific factors. The most common factors were religion and perception of adding misery to the dying patient. Only 11% (17/154) said that they had a discussion about organ donation with a hospice care staff.Conclusions. Hospice care itself is premature in low income countries, so knowledge and understanding about organ donation is even scarcer. Despite the majority opinion of Muslim jurists that organ donation is permitted in Sharia, surveys indicate continuing resistance by lay Muslims. The first step towards a better future would be better education of hospice staff regarding organ donation and Islam so that they disseminate the knowledge to their patients with better understanding. Allaying the anxiety of adding misery to the dying patient is also the responsibility of hospice staff by making the patients and families aware of a better donor care. ObjectivesIdentify active substance abuse as an issue complicating the pain management of many patients with cancer.Recognize the potential role of UDS in managing patients with cancer.Original Research Background. The high incidence of polypharmacy, chemical coping, opioid diversion, and underlying psychosocial concerns in cancer patients necessitates a comprehensive assessment in order to ensure safe opioid prescribing in the palliative setting. An adaptation of universal precautions that were initially developed for patients with non-cancer pain has been proposed for patients with cancer. These include assessments of substance abuse risk, monitoring of aberrant behavior, and screening/symptom assessment instruments.Research Objectives.1) Characterize the patients with abnormal UDS in a palliative care clinic; 2) Describe the use of unprescribed opioids and illicit drugs in ...