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Requesting Organ Donation: The Case of Self-Efficacy – Effects of the European Donor Hospital Education Programme (EDHEP)

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Abstract

One of the major reasons for the shortage ofdonor organs is the high number of refusals byrelatives. Studies have shown that the qualityof communication with bereaved relativesinfluences whether to object or agree to organand/or tissue donation. Breaking news of brainstem death, approaching relatives forpermission to donate organs while alsoappropriately managing emotional reactions ofrelatives are complex tasks, which requireknowledge of the domains as well as adequateskills to communicate information and understanding.In this study the effect of the European DonorHospital Education Programme (EDHEP) on theself-efficacy of Intensive Care staff isevaluated. Self-efficacy scores significantlyimproved after attending EDHEP; an effect thatwas maintained at six month follow-up. EDHEPparticipants with high baseline scores onself-efficacy, maintained the increase atfollow-up. EDHEP participants with low baselinescores on self-efficacy showed the greatestincrease at the post-test. Increases inself-efficacy were significantly related todecreases in the perceived difficulty ofrequesting. Experience had a significant effecton both self-efficacy beliefs and perceiveddifficulty of requesting donation. Asself-efficacy beliefs are perceived as betterpredictors for future behaviour than priorattainments, the results call for furtherresearch in this domain. The data indicate thattraining programmes should be tailored not onlyto working circumstances of participants, butshould also take levels of experience andself-efficacy into account. Further study isnecessary and the best way to proceed is torelate the outcomes of this study tobehavioural outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Development & Research, University of Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    G.A. Blok & C.P.M. van der Vleuten

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, UK

    J. Morton & M. Morley

  3. Department of Quantitative Economics, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands

    C.C.J.M. Kerckhoffs

  4. University of Maastricht, The Netherlands

    G. Kootstra

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  1. G.A. Blok
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  6. C.P.M. van der Vleuten
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Blok, G., Morton, J., Morley, M. et al. Requesting Organ Donation: The Case of Self-Efficacy – Effects of the European Donor Hospital Education Programme (EDHEP). Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract 9, 261–282 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-004-9404-6

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