Importance of Empathy in Transplant Coordinators during Organ Donation from Cadavers

Objective: To investigate the association between empathy levels in organ transplant coordinators, who have an important role in organ donation from cadavers, and success rates of organ donation.

Materials and Methods: This study was performed among healthcare providers who worked as organ transplant coordinators for at least a year across 21 hospitals in 9 cities of Turkey. In the socio-demographic data form prepared for the study, the coordinators were asked questions on their gender, age, professional experience, term of employment, and number of shifts per month. Additionally, the number of brain deaths that occurred during their shifts and the number of such cases accepted as donors were determined.

Results: No relationship was found between the total empathy score of coordinators and the rate of finding a donor. There was no association between age, professional experience, shift, donor declaration, and empathy score. JSE Cronbach alpha value was calculated as 0.78.

Conclusion: None of the variables related to organ transplant coordinators that were examined in this study were associated with the number of organ donations from deceased donors. Short-term and late communication by the coordinators could explain this situation. Earlier, longer, and repetitive contacts can contribute to obtaining positive results in organ donation.

Cite this article as: Öztürk M, Demirci H. Importance of Empathy in Transplant Coordinators during Organ Donation from Cadavers. Turk J Nephrol 2020; 29(2): 129-33.