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The Use of Focus Groups to Explore the Public Attitudes on the Use of Imminent Death Donation

P. Moolchandani1, R. Ackah2, L. Washburn1, D. O'Connor1, E. L. Godfrey1, T. Galván1, A. Rana1, J. A. Goss1

1Division Of Abdominal Transplantation, Michael E. DeBakey Department Of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2Department of Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D203

Keywords: Donation, Ethics

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Non-Organ Specific: Economics & Ethics

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

 Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Hall C & D

*Purpose: The aim of this study is to inform the development of a questionnaire to explore the feelings, attitudes, and values the public has towards Imminent Death Donation in an effort to determine if IDD can be employed to meet the unmet need for high-quality organs.

*Methods: The focus group method will be used. One 60-minute focus group, involving thirty participants, will be conducted. Participants will be defined as families and decision-makers of deceased donors. They will be contacted and invited to participate through our region’s organ procurement organization. Participants will be asked to (1) discuss and characterize general donor terminology, especially specific to IDD; (2) give general opinions about the process and ethics of IDD; and (3) review the clinical vignette planned for future surveys. The event will be mediated by a psychologist and a transplant surgeon.

*Results: With the goal of creating a mass survey to assess for public attitudes, our focus group will gauge participant understanding of specific medical terminology to pinpoint the ideal language to discuss IDD in a coherent, simple and sensitive manner. The survey will allow for greater participant recruitment and quantifiable analysis. This survey will also be used to assess preliminary support for or opposition to IDD and the rationale behind those opinions.

*Conclusions: The UNOS Ethics Committee has concluded that IDD is a potentially viable and ethical option for organ procurement; however, there are concerns about how IDD affects public opinion and trust. This study aims to forecast the effect IDD may have on public trust. Our focus group will remark on the validity of current hypotheses regarding public opinion on IDD and public trust. Our preliminary results will guide the creation of a survey that will be administered on a larger scale to build upon the national public opinion regarding implementation of IDD.

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To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Moolchandani P, Ackah R, Washburn L, O'Connor D, Godfrey EL, Galván T, Rana A, Goss JA. The Use of Focus Groups to Explore the Public Attitudes on the Use of Imminent Death Donation [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/the-use-of-focus-groups-to-explore-the-public-attitudes-on-the-use-of-imminent-death-donation/. Accessed May 11, 2025.

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