Organ donation and transplantation: Implications for social work

Abstract

Organ transplantation is a panacea for end-stage diseases and unfortunately, the number of patients that are on the waiting list is increasing. There is no equilibrium between the supply and the demand for organs. The chronic shortage of organs has detrimental consequences as the majority of patients depart from the world of the living without getting a life-saving organ. This study seeks to appraise the roles that are played by medical social workers in organ donation and transplantation. The ambition of this study was achieved through the employment of qualitative approach and explorative research design. Social marketing was used as the theoretical framework for this study. Purposive sampling and snow ball were used to select a sample of fifteen social workers. In-depth interviews were used to collect data which was analysed through thematic-content analysis. The finds that, the major roles of social workers in organ donation and transplantation are assessment, counselling, public education, advocacy, broker role. The study recommends that further research in organ donation and transplantation should be conducted, particularly in black communities. Public education on organ donation and transplantation should be taught in both primary and secondary schools.

Keywords: organ donation; transplantation; social work