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Background: Current donor risk assessments to identify risk of infectious transmission through transplantation have been criticized as unnecessarily discriminatory for sexual and gender minorities. Little is known about how increased infectious risk donor (IIRD) patients transition through the deceased donation system. We sought to evaluate how IIRD status and other equity‐relevant identities impacted the likelihood of a caregiver of a deceased donor being approached for organ donation and the likelihood of caregiver consent. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of potential deceased donors referred to a Canadian provincial organ donation organization (ODO) from 2015 to 2021. Our primary outcome is the difference in the likelihood of being approached by the ODO for organ donation for IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors, amongst referred potential deceased organ donors. Secondary outcomes include the difference in caregiver consent for donation for IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors, amongst approached deceased organ donors. We built multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate these outcomes. Results: Amongst all referred potential deceased organ donors, IIRD status did not impact the likelihood of being approached by our ODO for deceased organ donation compared to baseline risk donors (OR 1.695, 95% CI 0.902–3.197). Amongst approached deceased organ donors, there was no significant difference in caregiver consent for donation between IIRD and baseline risk donors (OR 1.854, 95% CI 0.902–3.929). Approached eligible IIRDs were younger with fewer comorbidities, lower KDPI scores, were more likely to have died from anoxic brain injuries and have death determined by neurologic criteria, and more likely to have non‐medical injection drug use than baseline risk donors. There were no cases of donor‐derived human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or hepatitis B virus (HBV) reported for any donors included, regardless of IIRD status, during the study period. Conclusions: We found no significant difference in the likelihood of ODO approach in IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors. There was no difference in caregiver consent for donation in IIRDs compared to baseline risk donors. A greater proportion of IIRDs became successful donors compared to baseline risk donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To understand the experiences and perceptions of burnout and compassion fatigue among Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinators (OTDCs) in Canada. Methods: A series of virtual focus group discussions were held with OTDCs from across Canada to discuss burnout and compassion fatigue as part of a national research project in collaboration with Canadian Blood Services, the organ donation and transplantation community, and experts in the field. Results: Eleven participants, including Canadian OTDCs and experts in the area of burnout, compassion fatigue and organ donation, participated in the discussion. OTDCs agreed that the high pressure and demands of their role challenge their workplace wellbeing and mental health. As a result, some of the OTDCs have recognized signs and symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue throughout their career. Although OTDCs support each other and develop their own personal coping and protective strategies, there is a continued need to develop specific strategies to help mitigate work-related issues and increase retention of experienced OTDCs in Canada. Conclusion: The highly demanding role of OTDCs in Canada have challenged their mental health and work-related wellbeing, leaving them more susceptible to experiencing issues such as burnout and compassion fatigue. Future research is needed to investigate the levels of work-related issues among OTDCs, as well as to develop specific interventions to help support the work-related wellbeing and mental health of these professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient safety and continuity of quality care are dependent on effective communication. Clinical nurse specialists at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg were finding that when they sought out essential patient information from front-line nurses, they sometimes encountered gaps in knowledge about the patient. Having to acquire this information elsewhere was causing unnecessary delays in care. The authors, members of an advanced practice nurses group at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, undertook a quality improvement project to gain an understanding of the problems in information exchanges between nurses. Through interviews with front-line nurses on four units, they found that many factors contributed to the lack of knowledge nurses had about patients, such as inconsistent documentation, poorly defined plans of care and variable communication patterns. This project highlighted the need to develop a standardized handoff template to aid in information exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]