"Train the Trainers" Program to Improve Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions About Organ Donation in the European Union and Neighbouring Countries: Pre- and Post- Data Analysis of the EUDONORGAN Project.

EUDONORGAN, a European Union-funded project to improve organ and tissue donation, included a blended-based "Train the Trainers" program, which was implemented with the support of an international consortium from Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain. The web-based training included seven modules for which medical aspects, educational tips, and practical activities were scored using a 5-point Likert scale. The overall mean scores of satisfaction were higher than 4 for each module, without significant differences between HCPs and OKPs. In the face-to-face training survey similar scores above 4 were obtained for most items. Knowledge acquisition improved significantly in both HCPs and OKPs, as well as in transplant/donor coordinators, medical doctors, registered nurses, anesthesiologists/intensivists, and intensive care nurses. Improvements in attitudes and perceptions regarding organ donation were also observed, particularly among HCPs. In the accomplishment of the learning process, a successful pass mark of 95% was obtained. The "Train the Trainers" program was associated with an improvement in learning and attitudes of healthcare and non-healthcare professionals for the benefit of organ and tissue donation.

Leadership, management, quality, and innovation in organ donation: 2019 Kunming recommendations for One Belt & One Road countries.

The findings and recommendations of the 2019 consensus conference in organ donation, held in Kunming, China, are here reported. The main objective of the conference was to gather relevant information from experts involved in the field. The data and opinions provided allowed to propose a series of recommendations for "One Belt & One Road Countries" on how to achieve self-sufficiency in organ donation. Leadership in organ donation should be results-oriented and goal-driven based on the principles of excellence, empowerment, and engagement, providing the means, resources, and strategies necessary to reach the goal in earnest. Management includes good governance and transparency of a national registry of patients in the waiting list, donors, transplants, transplant teams, quality, and safety programs with continuous educational training of health care professionals. Mandatory monitoring, auditing and evaluation of quality must be incorporated into donation practices as relevant points in innovation, as well as the adoption of already established and novel processes and technologies. Achievement of self-sufficiency in organ donation is a crucial step to fight against transplant tourism and to prevent organ trafficking. Based on recommendations arising from the conference, each country could review and develop individualized action plans adjusted to its own circumstances and reality.

Design and implementation of the European-Mediterranean Postgraduate Programme on Organ Donation and Transplantation (EMPODaT) for Middle East/North Africa countries.

This prospective study reports the design and results obtained after the EMPODaT project implementation. This project was funded by the Tempus programme of the European Commission with the objective to implement a common postgraduate programme on organ donation and transplantation (ODT) in six selected universities from Middle East/North Africa (MENA) countries (Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco). The consortium, coordinated by the University of Barcelona, included universities from Spain, Germany, Sweden and France. The first phase of the project was to perform an analysis of the current situation in the beneficiary countries, including existing training programmes on ODT, Internet connection, digital facilities and competences, training needs, and ODT activity and accreditation requirements. A total of 90 healthcare postgraduate students participated in the 1-year training programme (30 ECTS academic credits). The methodology was based on e-learning modules and face-to-face courses in English and French. Training activities were evaluated through pre- and post-tests, self-assessment activities and evaluation charts. Quality was assessed through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The project results on a reproducible and innovative international postgraduate programme, improvement of knowledge, satisfaction of the participants and confirms the need on professionalizing the activity as the cornerstone to ensure organ transplantation self-sufficiency in MENA countries.

Benefits of Transplant Procurement Management (TPM) specialized training on professional competence development and career evolutions of health care workers in organ donation and transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: Training on organ donation and transplantation is relevant for transplantation improvement. This study aimed at investigating the perceived benefits of Transplant Procurement Management training programs on professional competence development and career evolutions of health care workers in organ donation and transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was developed in 5 languages (Spanish, English, Italian, French, and Portuguese) and its link was emailed to 6839 individuals. They were asked to forward it to other professionals in organ donation and transplantation. The link was also shared on Facebook and at relevant congresses. Two research questions on the perceived influence of specialized training programs were identified. RESULTS: A total of 1102 participants (16.1%) took the survey; 87% reported participating in Transplant Procurement Management training programs, of which 95% selected Transplant Procurement Management courses as the most influential training they had participated in. For research question one, 98% reported influence on knowledge (score 4.5 [out of 5]), 93% on technical (4.2) and communication skills (4.1), 89% on attitude toward organ donation and transplantation (4.1), 92% on motivation to work (4.2), 91% on desire to innovate (4.0), 87% and 79% on ability to change organ donation and trans plantation practices (3.9) and policies (3.5). For research question 2, main and interaction effects for position at the time of training and type of training were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Transplant Procurement Management training programs had positive perceived effects.

ETPOD (European Training Program on Organ Donation): a successful training program to improve organ donation.

Advanced training of healthcare professionals active in organ donation is highlighted as a major means to overcome organ shortage. The objective of this study was to improve donation rates in the selected European target areas (TAs) by providing an advanced training program. A prospective intervention study was conducted in 25 TAs with active donor programs from 17 European countries, between 2007 and 2009. A training program based on collaborative methodology was designed at three different professional levels (health workers awareness, junior transplant coordinators, managers). Courses evaluation scores and donation figures in each TA were collected and compared before and after intervention. Courses with new developed training tools were implemented reaching out 3286 healthcare professionals. Feed-back questionnaires revealed a high degree of satisfaction among participants (average of 4.35 on a 1-5 scale). The number of utilized donors in the TAs increased from 15.7 ± 14.3 (95% CI: 9.8-21.6) to 20.0 ± 17.1 (95% CI: 13-27.1) (P = 0.014) and the number of organs recovered increased from 49.7 ± 48.5 (95% CI: 29.6-69.7) to 59.3 ± 52.1 (95% CI: 37.8-80.8) (P = 0.044). The European Training Program on Organ Donation is a successful training program, achieving a significant increase in organ donation figures.