Design and evaluation of a workplace intervention to promote organ donation.

BACKGROUND: A number of efforts have been made to improve rates of deceased organ donation. However, few have been specifically designed for implementation in the workplace.

OBJECTIVES: To design and evaluate a workplace intervention to increase documentation of intention to be posthumous organ donors, communication of donation intention to families, and family members' documentation of their donation intentions.

METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled trial of corporate employees. Within each corporation, worksites were randomized to a control condition or 1 of 2 educational interventions. Measures included baseline and 1-month postintervention measures of stage of organ donation intention, stage of family notification, and family members' organ donation intention.

RESULTS: Across 12 corporations, 40 worksites with a total of 754 participants were randomized. At 1-month follow-up, 495 participants (66%) completed a posttreatment questionnaire. The percentage of participants who signed organ donor cards increased in the 2 intervention groups (29%, P < .001, and 31%, P < .002) but not in the control group (17%, P = .454). The percentage who discussed their donation intentions with family members increased significantly across all 3 arms (39%-47%, P < .001). The mean percentage of participants' family members who signed organ donor cards increased by 14% in the control group (P = .016) and by 17% in the 2 intervention groups (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions in the corporate workplace setting can be effective in increasing organ donation intention, family notification, and recruitment of family members as potential organ donors.