S56 Transplantation ■ August 2017 ■ Volume 101 ■ Number 8S-2 www.transplantjournal.

com

320.3

The Role of Education to Increase the Cadaveric Donor Transplant

Mehmet Kazak1
Samsun Organ and Tissue Transplantation Regional Coordination
Centre, The Ministry of Health of Turkish Republic, Samsun, Turkey.
Introduction: The number of the patients in need of organ transplantation
continuously increases as a result of organ failure due to various diseases
which can be remedied by transplant. The lack of donors results in patient fatal-
ity while waiting for transplant. Our objective is to increase the number of organ
donation through bringing the importance of this issue to the attention of Health
Professionals and public at large in Samsun Organ and Tissue Transplantation
Regional Coordination Centre (SOTTRC-Centre) in the first instance.
Methods: Table 1 shows the population distribution in 2011 (start of public
awareness campaign) and 2016 in the SOTTRC-Centre region. Table 2
shows the corresponding demographic data of cadaveric donors. Two propor-
tion statistical process is used to analyze the data in estimating the number of
donors per million of population (pmp). In order to increase the number of do-
nors in the cities comprising SOTTRC, we have organized several seminars,
conferences and panels. Due to the importance of religious belief in organ do-
nation, educational programs were conducted by the religious and spiritual
leaders. Doctors, Organ Transplantation Coordinators and other health pro-
fessionals were also informed about the difficulties and needs of the matter.
Financed by The European Union and The Ministry of Health of Turkish Re-
public, these information seminars, called “Technical Assistance for Align-
ment in Organ Donation” were attended by some 150 health professionals
including Anesthesiologists, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons and Intensivists.
With the help of the project ‘Donate and Eliminate the Obstacles’, 4604 peo-
ple were informed about organ transplantation. Organ Transplantation Coor-
dinators gave seminars on organ transplantation and brain death in all
public institutions in the SOTTRC region, enhanced by television and radio
coverage as well as Organ Transplantation Stands and information seminars
in schools and colleges.
Results: Demographic data are shown in Table 2. There are no differences
between groups in terms of age and gender. As shown in Table 3, the number
of cadaveric donors increased significantly from 3.47 pmp in 2011 to 8.65
pmp in 2016 with p=0.001.
Conclusion: As a consequence; it is crucial to raise awareness about the or-
gan transplantation in every segment of society. People and professionals on
the field should be educated regularly. These efforts can lead to a significant
increase in the number of organ transplantation. We believe that educational
seminars, panels and meetings held on this issue have resulted in public ac-
ceptance of organ donation resulting in increased organ transplantation.

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