Our objective was to evaluate physician response to an educational program to increase referral of potential organ or tissue donors in an emergency department (ED). This study was a nonrandomized, controlled, before-after intervention trial at a nonuniversity teaching hospital with 45,000 annual patient visits to the ED. Two one-hour educational sessions reviewed with EMP (but not CON) the physician's role in requesting donation, donor criteria, required-request legislation, and services available from organ procurement professionals. Rates of consideration for donation, discussion with family, consent for donation, recovery of tissues or organs for donation and completion of a donor request form were evaluated before and after the intervention by a blinded chart reviewer. Prior to the intervention, tissue recovery was 0% of EMP and 4% for CON. After intervention, the EMP rate increased to 48% (p < 0.001) but CON remained unchanged (5%, p = 1.0). Similar increases limited to the EMP group were seen for mentioning donation in the narrative chart (1% to 68%, p < 0.001), discussion with family (1% to 65%, p < 0.001), and consent for donation (0% to 32%, p < 0.001). The effect of the intervention was not sustained, with decreased rates of mentioning donation (p = 0.004) and discussion with family (p = 0.02) over six months. Physician education increases request for donation, consent for donation, and recovery of tissue. The duration of this effect is short-lived; repeated interventions may be necessary.
Education, Medical, Continuing Emergency Service, Hospital