GP Education Supports Our Patients On Organ And Tissue Donation Issues, Australia

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 24 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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As part of Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week (21-28 February), The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), in collaboration with Queensland Health, has launched two new online learning activities that will help general practitioners, practice nurses, practice managers and the extended primary care team to answer patient queries about organ and tissue donation. The module also offers advice on how to promote appropriate discussion of organ donation issues with patients.

The two activities called Key issues for general practice and MCQs (multiple choice questions) have been written by Queensland Health, with support from The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the RACGP. All RACGP members have free access to these learning activities through the RACGP's online education portal gplearning at http://www.gplearning.com.au. Category 2 QA&CPD points apply for GPs.

"Patients look to their GPs for advice on a wide variety of health matters, especially at times when health awareness is raised during campaigns such as Australian Organ Donation Awareness Week. The RACGP is there to support our members with world-class learning activities that provide a practical and up to date approach to the often challenging issue of organ and tissue donation," said Dr Chris Mitchell, RACGP President and GP in Northern NSW.

"GPs are well placed to advise and support our patients when they have questions about organ and tissue transplantation. Often the need to support our patients through issues of organ donation can come about in unanticipated or crisis situations. At these times, when patients most need our support, GPs need to be familiar with the medical and ethical issues surrounding organ donation. We want to support our patients to make informed decisions," said Dr Mitchell.

The RACGP's gplearning activities offer a 'one stop shop' to address these concerns in an interactive and easily accessible fashion so that clinicians can be prepared ahead of time. As these activities are available online, GPs can complete them anywhere at any time

At the end of this module participants should be able to:

- describe the processes involved in organ donation in Australia
- outline the role and function of the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR)
- describe the difference between organ and tissue donation and the circumstances in which these can occur
- describe the epidemiology of organ donation in Australia
- demonstrate ability to proactively provide patients and their families with accurate information to minimise potential harm from misinformation
- demonstrate ability to support patients and their families to make informed decisions about organ donation
- answer common questions fielded by patients and families of potential donors regarding organ and tissue donation
- explain the criteria for donation
- incorporate routine practices that promote discussion of organ donation into your practice
- be comfortable talking to patients about registering on the AODR

The module covers cadaveric organ and tissue donation (an organ or tissue transplanted after its owner's death) including identification of a potential donor, criteria for donation, donor management and registration with the Australian Organ Donor Register. The module does not discuss living donation programs.

For more information about the new online activity, visit http://www.gplearning.com.au.

For more information about the Queensland Health, visit http://www.health.qld.gov.au.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice. The RACGP has the largest general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia and represents the majority of Australia's general practitioners.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

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