Implementation and Sustainability of European Training Program on Organ Donation in Poland: Results and the Impact on Donation Indicators

Background: Hospital training called ETPOD-Essentials in Organ Donation-was introduced in Poland in 31 hospitals with under-utilized potential of donation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect in hospitals included and not included in program, before and after trainings.

Methods: The number of potential and effective donors, organs used, and number (%) of family refusals were compared at 10 and in 20 months after the training and in equal periods before.

Results: In trained hospitals, the number of potential donors increased (17% in 10 months, 10% in 20 months); in remaining hospitals, donors increased in 5% in both periods. In hospitals included in ETPOD, the number of effective donors increased (2% and 4.5%); in the whole country, donors also increased (5.6% and 2.7%). In ETPOD hospitals, the number of utilized organs increased (14.5% and 8.5%); in the rest, the increase was 3% and 7%. In trained hospitals, family refusals increased from 6.9% to 16.2% and from 8.9% to 10.7%; in the whole country, family refusals decreased from 11.7% to 11% in the short term and increased from 9.6% to 12.1% in the long term.

Conclusions: In hospitals involved in the ETPOD program, the increase in organ donation is greater than in the rest of hospitals. Distinct benefit was observed in consent to organ donation.