STRATEGIES AND TOOLS IN PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS FOR ORGAN AND TISSUE BANK IN URUGUAY
Authors: Inés Alvarez, Fernando da Rosa, Raúl Mizraji, Milka Bengochea, Mª del Carmen Saldías, Olga Wodowoz, Walter Silva, Mª del Carmen Acosta, Cono García and Julio Arredondo.
Banco
Nacional de Organos y Tejidos - BNOT. Hospital de Clínicas. Ministerio
de Salud Pública. Universidad de la República. URUGUAY.
The
National Transplant System in Uruguay is implemented by the National Bank
of Organs and Tissues Organization (BNOT). BNOT
sets the policies, allocation and regulation of activities about donation
and organs and tissues transplantation.-
Uruguay, democratic and parliamentary country of South America, take advantages on the region in the communication strategy, because the situation analysis show:
1.small country with very good communication ways.
2.the population is majority urban: 92,4%. (1)
3.the level of alphabetization is high: 96,9% (1)
4.the public education system is free and compulsory (primary school).
5.higher index TV per person in the South America. (2)
6.higher index computer per person in the South America. (2)
7.Internet users rate: 120/pthp (second place in South America).(2)
We define the awareness strategies based on:
a) The Tissue Bank is part of the BNOT, and Donor National Register, Donor Referral and Transplant Coordination System are natural linked in the Organization.
b) Informatics media, basically BNOT web site include:
a. Information about BNOT Organization (flow chart, sections, number of toll free, staff, authorities interviews, photos of the building and different activities, etc)
b. information for general public about organs and tissues donation and transplantation ( legal, religious, ethical aspects)
c. Information for recipients about BNOT activities.
d. Information for Medical Doctors and health professionals by booklets: “National consensus of adult and children brain death” and “Donor maintained”.
e. Information for teachers, donors, donors families and general public by booklet on Education and Health organs and tissues transplant “Donation and Transplantation”
f. Statistical results
g. Videos and animations (for example TV spots, recipients interviews, HLA system etc)
c) “SIEMBRA Project” using the primary and high school system by “Teaching the Teachers” on donation and transplantation. Official program in primary and secondary education trough one day workshop with the last years students of School teachers, that these new School teachers are the first step of donor communication to the children, and through them to the children family.
The results of these educational strategies will be obtained in the next ten years, but now 5.800 primary school of the total 17.000 of the country, have received specific workshops education by us.
d) Broadcast, TV and public place campaign.
e) Health staff through Intensive Care, Medical Doctors, Nurses, Hospital staff and Surgeon users. All activities are supported by brochures, booklets, manuals, posters, t-shirt, pins, etc.
RESULTS:
The specific awareness strategies and the employed tools were define to Target Audience:
| TARGET AUDIENCE |
TOOLS |
| 1. Donors and donor families |
•Booklet of “Education and Transplantation” (printed and BNOT web site). •Booklet of “A Manual of HLA System for bone marrow donors and receptors ” |
| 2. Recipients |
•Support of recipients activities: Transplant recipient Olympic games, Transplant recipient national games (stickers and BNOT web site). Presence in different recipients activities: a)closing ceremony of “First transplant recipient rioplatenses games” 2002 b)opening ceremony of “Transplant recipient national games”, November, 2003. |
| 3. User Surgeon |
A)Conferences and seminars (8-10/year with 35-40 participants each one)to: Esthetical – Plastic surgeons, Orthopaedics surgeons, Vascular surgeons, Cardiovascular surgeons, Dentists, and different Medical Scientific Societies. B)Scientific papers in National and International Publications: Ø11 index publications (2000 – 2003) C)Posters and oral presentations in National and International Congress: Ø23 Transplantation, Transplant Coordinators and Surgeon users Congress (2000 – 2003) |
| 4. Bereaved families |
•Psychological support. •General information about the quality of life of transplanted patients and organ and tissue donation (BNOT web site) •Booklet of “Education and Transplantation” (printed and BNOT web site). |
| 5. Media |
•Since 2002 Joint Prof. Fernando da Rosa (Director of the Broadcast and visual language – Science Communication School - UDELAR) is responsible of the BNOT Communication Area. •BNOT staff participate in: TV, radial and newspapers interviews. • Provide monthly and annual report. •Seminars with journalist and 150 Science Communication students. •Participation in television program promoting donation with the BNOT professional, transplant people and waiting list patients. In some opportunities with donors families too. At the moment the Organization have a new media campaign with posters for public places and TV and radial spots. |
| 6. Tissue Bank staff |
• Permanent training: RLA/7/009 ARCAL LIX and INT/6/052 AIEA Projects: •Two Medical Doctors have just finished the Training Course for Tissue Bank Operator (Buenos Aires).- •One Psychologist of Procurement Unit have just finished the Transplant Procurement Management (TPM) (Spain). • One Medical Doctor is participating in the Advanced Training Course Tissue Bank Operator (Singapore)(2nd. year). •One Medical Doctor is participating in the Training Course Tissue Bank Operator (Buenos Aires) (2nd. year). •One Medical Doctor is participating in the Transplant Procurement Management (TPM) for Transplant Coordinators (Spain). •Continuous internal training: meetings, seminars. •Public acknowledgement for the work years in our Organization. |
| 7.1 Intensive care units staff |
•Seminars and conferences to: health staff of intensive unit care services and neuro and trauma emergencies Hospitals. •Daily visits to 5 Intensive Care Units in Montevideo and Canelones Departments. •Booklet of “A Manual of the National consensus of adult and children brain” (printed and BNOT web site). •Booklet of “Manual of donor maintained ” |
| 7.2 Health care personnel |
•Since two years ago the medical and nurse staff are making three hours workshops of the way amniotic membrane could be used as biological dresser, on public and private emergencies Hospitals in Montevideo city ( 27 workshops - 87 hours) |
| 7.3 General Medical Doctor |
We have a Unit on Promote Donation and Transplantation, 10 accredited hours on the “Continuous Medical Education Programme” of Post graduate College of Medical School. |
| 8. Community groups |
•BNOT web site: http://www.bnot.hc.edu.uy/ •Toll free number: 08001835 (24 hours of the day, 365 days of the year). •TV spots • Postage•Donor memorial monument •National Day of Donation and Transplantation is celebrated on third Sunday of November as donor recognition. • Posters in the public places |
| 8.1 Teaching the Teaches |
•Official program on primary and secondary education through one day workshop with the last years students of School teachers Primary target: Teachers Secondary target: families children •5.800 of the all 17.000 Teachers, have received specific workshops education by us. |
| 9. Government Departments |
•Report meeting with the members of the Health Commissions of Low and High Parliament Cameras. Seminars and conferences in BNOT with members of Parliament about “Organs and Tissues Transplant Law” |
References: (1) www.ine.gub.uy
(2) www.icamericas.net