Design and implementation of the European-Mediterranean Postgraduate Programme on Organ Donation and Transplantation (EMPODaT) for Middle East/North Africa countries.

This prospective study reports the design and results obtained after the EMPODaT project implementation. This project was funded by the Tempus programme of the European Commission with the objective to implement a common postgraduate programme on organ donation and transplantation (ODT) in six selected universities from Middle East/North Africa (MENA) countries (Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco). The consortium, coordinated by the University of Barcelona, included universities from Spain, Germany, Sweden and France.

Effects of Kidney Transplantation on Labor Market Outcomes in Sweden.

Background: Kidney transplantation is considered a superior treatment for end-stage renal disease compared with dialysis although little is known about the wider effects, especially on labor market outcomes. The objective is to estimate the treatment effect of kidney transplantation compared with dialysis on labor market outcomes, controlling for the nonrandom selection into treatment.

Methods: The average treatment effect is estimated using an inverse-probability weighting regression adjustment approach on all patients in renal replacement therapy 1995 to 2012.

Do kidney transplantations save money? A study using a before-after design and multiple register-based data from Sweden.

Background: The health care costs of kidney transplantation and dialysis are generally unknown. This study estimates the Swedish health care costs of kidney transplantation and dialysis over 10 years from a health care perspective.

Method: A before-after design was used, in which the patients served as their own controls.

Obstacles to organ donation in Swedish intensive care units.

Objective: To identify obstacles to organ donation in Swedish intensive care units.

Design: A survey exploring attitudes and experiences of organ donation activities was sent to half of all anaesthetists and all neurosurgeons in Sweden (n=644). Total response rate was 67%; 69% from the anaesthetists and 54% from the neurosurgeons.

[Obstacles for recruiting organ donors in intensive care units can be overcomed. Identified obstacles are attitudes, ethics, resources and competence, as shown by an inquiry].

The aim of this study was to identify obstacles for recruiting organ donors in the ICU. All specialists in neurosurgery and half of the specialists in anaesthesiology in Sweden were surveyed. Response rate was 67%.