Online education about end‐of‐life care and the donation process after brain death and circulatory death. Can we influence perception and attitudes in critical care doctors? A prospective study

Abstract

Impact of training on end-of-life care (EOLC) and the deceased donation process in critical care physicians' perceptions and attitudes was analysed. A survey on attitudes and perceptions of deceased donation as part of the EOLC process was delivered to 535 physicians working in critical care before and after completion of a online training programme (2015-17). After training, more participants agreed that nursing staff should be involved in the end-of-life decision process (P < 0.001) and that relatives should not be responsible for medical decisions (P < 0.001). Postcourse, more participants considered 'withdrawal/withholding' as similar actions (P < 0.001); deemed appropriate the use of pre-emptive sedation in all patients undergoing life support treatment adequacy (LSTA; P < 0.001); and were favourable to approaching family about donation upon LSTA agreement, as well as admitting them in the intensive care unit (P < 0.001) to allow the possibility of donation. Education increased the number of participants prone to initiate measures to preserve the organs for donation before the declaration of death in patients undergoing LSTA (P < 0.001). Training increased number of positive terms selected by participants to describe donation after brain and circulatory death. Training programmes may be useful to improve physicians' perception and attitude about including donation as part of the patient's EOLC.

Evaluation of Physician’s Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding the Diagnosis of Brain Death in Deceased Organ Transplantation in Northern Cyprus

“…Physicians' perceptions of organ donation can be positively influenced by educating them about end-of-life care and the organ donation process. This can increase the potential for organ donation [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Medical students’ knowledge and attitude toward brain death and the influence of medical education: a cross-sectional study

“…What's more surprising is that most medical students would like to disseminate the knowledge to their family members or friends and the public. Previous studies have showed that education can improve the attitude of medical students and physicians about brain death and organ donation [20,21]. Therefore, it is necessary to add courses related to brain death and organ donation in medical education.…”