Psychological Problems of Family Members of Brain-Dead Organ Donors: A Qualitative Study

Organ donation is a very difficult decision for families. Families of brain-dead patients simultaneously face the difficult and damaging stages of experiencing and understanding brain death and the crisis of decision-making about organ donation. The understanding of individuals’ mentality and experiences is not possible with common quantitative approach; however, due to the importance this issue in nursing, understanding this concept seems necessary in order to provide appropriate care. Thus, in the present study, the qualitative study method was used for a deeper understanding of the psychological problems of brain dead patients’ family members.
This qualitative study was conducted through content analysis approach. The study participants were 13 relatives of 8 brain dead patients and were selected through purposive sampling method. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Data collection was continued until data saturation, when no new codes and categories were found. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed through the qualitative content analysis methods of Granheim and Lundman.
Through data analysis, 16 sub-categories were obtained and were categorized into the 4 themes of ambiguities, fear and doubt, dependency, and growth and development. Each of these concepts was divided into smaller indices.
Results of the qualitative evaluation of the psychological problems of families of brain-dead organ donors showed that, because of families’ different experiences, lack of awareness, and harmful levels of anxiety and depression, it is necessary to appropriately support families in this crisis. The extracted concepts showed that all of the families required the medical team’s sympathy and that they must be assisted in understanding any ambiguities and better understanding these conditions. Moreover, the incidence of inappropriate thoughts and confounding factors in the acceptance of this crisis must be reduced by strengthening the humanitarian morale of individuals.