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Improving the After Care of Deceased Organ Donor Families and Friends, an Online Peer to Peer Support Network

Ditchfield, Angela

Authors

Angela Ditchfield



Abstract

The research study aims to presents the use of social media to support aftercare for families of organ donors following the death of their relative. Existing research appraising aftercare of family’s post deceased donation is limited with families receiving limited bereavement support following organ donation. A closed Facebook group was created, ‘Donor Families Together’ for donor family/friends to connect with one another, offering peer support using an online platform. With group consent a qualitative research study ran consecutively for 12 months. Conversational data from the Facebook group was downloaded, 1452 posts and the results of 3 polls (short surveys), as well as one to one interviews, capturing personal experiences. Thematic analysis of group and individual narrative data generated rich integrated findings and new knowledge to inform practice. The research found that organ donor families who joined the group connected with others who are living through this unique grief experience, sharing their most intimate feelings with strangers, offering support any time of the day or night. Organ donor families have united through their lived experience of death and donation, providing them with a safe environment to share, emotions, grief, questions, offering peer support, and building a special bereavement community. The findings revealed the complexity of organ donation and how families need specialist bereavement support as they continuously search for information about recipients. Using this innovative approach generated new knowledge in valuing the impact of social media in connecting organ donor families, providing understanding of the complex aftercare needs of organ donor families.

Online Publication Date Jul 2, 2023
Publication Date Jul 2, 2023
Deposit Date Jan 23, 2025
DOI https://doi.org/10.17866/rd.salford.23609535.v1
Publisher URL https://salford.figshare.com/articles/poster/Improving_the_After_Care_of_Deceased_Organ_Donor_Families_and_Friends_an_Online_Peer_to_Peer_Support_Network/23609535
Collection Date Jul 2, 2023