A model for structuring the donor discussion in emergent transplant procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential for maximizing organ and tissue donation by identifying an empirical basis for structuring donor discussions. DESIGN: Intentions to donate organs and tissues were recorded in 2 separate samples of participants and analyzed separately by using Guttman scaling, the second sample providing a replication of the findings from the first. PARTICIPANTS: 304 participants were recruited from the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2004, and 200 health professionals were recruited from the Royal Free Hospital. RESULTD: High coefficients of scalability and reproducibility in both samples indicate a one-dimensional scale for intentions to donate organs and tissues, with solid organs more likely to be donated than corneal, hand, and facial tissue. Thus donor discussions can be structured in a robust order, with the potential for reliable use of cutoff points once donation of a particular organ or tissue has been refused. CONCLUSIONS: This reliable pattern can be used to maximize organ and tissue donation rates and to underpin emergent transplant techniques.