[Experiences of relatives of donors with the donation procedure; comparison between 1995 and 1998].

Objective: To determine the experience of the relatives of organ and tissue donors, immediately before, during and soon after the donation procedure.

Design: Questionnaire.

Method: At two national one-day meetings at which about 10% of the families of donors between 1991 and 1998 were represented, the participants completed a questionnaire with questions about their appreciation of the communication with the different health care professionals. The appreciation was scored on a 7-point scale.

Results: Most relatives looked back with satisfaction on the events in the hospital and soon thereafter; the appreciation was 'a little satisfied' to 'satisfied'. The relatives in non-heart-beating kidney transplantation were more satisfied compared to those confronted with the brain death transplantation, with regard to the conversation in which the death was announced as well as to the conversation regarding the donation procedure. Relatives in 1998 were more positive about some specific aspects than in 1995, notably concerning explanation of the phenomenon of brain death. Satisfaction was primarily influenced by the way in which the news of death was conveyed and the aftercare by the transplant coordinator. The moment donation was addressed and the moment the relatives said 'good-bye' to their beloved were the next important factors.