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Romanian intensivists report communication and system barriers to organ donation

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Research area:medicine-clinicalclinical-methods

What the study found

The survey found that Romanian intensive care physicians generally agreed with brain death diagnostic criteria, but many reported insufficient communication skills and uneven support for organ donation in their hospitals. The authors identified educational, organizational, and system-level barriers to organ donation performance.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that targeted training, better communication strategies, routine integration of donation pathways into intensive care practice, and national consent instruments are important priorities for low-performing transplant systems.

What the researchers tested

The researchers conducted a prospective, nationwide, questionnaire-based survey of intensive care physicians in Romania. The questionnaire covered knowledge and attitudes about brain death, communication with families, involvement in donation processes, ethical views, and opinions on transplant-system organization, and the responses were analyzed descriptively.

What worked and what didn't

Among 117 ICU physicians, 84.6% agreed with the current brain death diagnostic criteria and 83% said the protocol was sufficiently clear. However, 69.3% said communication competencies were insufficient, 77.8% viewed family consent as decisive, and organ procurement was a priority in only 38.5% of ICUs; structured training and institutional prioritization were inconsistent.

What to keep in mind

The study used self-reported survey data from 117 physicians, so it reflects reported perceptions and practices rather than direct observation. The abstract does not describe patient outcomes or provide limitations beyond the survey design and reported scope.

Key points

  • Most respondents agreed with brain death diagnostic criteria and found the protocol clear.
  • Many intensivists reported insufficient communication competencies for discussions with families.
  • Family consent was widely seen as decisive in donation decisions.
  • Organ procurement was a priority in only a minority of ICUs.
  • The authors describe educational, organizational, and systemic barriers to organ donation performance.

Disclosure

Research title:
Romanian intensivists report communication and system barriers to organ donation
Authors:
Alberto Emanuel Bacușcă, Grigore Tinică, Alexandru Burlacu, Andrei Țăruș, Domnica Bacușcă, Mihail Enache, Agnes Bacușcă, Bianca Hanganu, Cristina Gavriluță, Beatrice Gabriela Ioan
Institutions:
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Institutul Regional de Oncologie, Institutul Regional de Oncologie, Institutul Regional de Oncologie
Publication date:
2026-02-26
DOI:
10.3390/jcm15051769
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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