The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43326

Adedeji Sikiru Adefuye, MBBS, MPH¹, Shaffdeen Amuwo, PhD,, MPH¹, and Martin Mozes, MD². (1) OCGA, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, 1603 W. Taylor, Suite 152, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-6081, rill@uic.edu, (2) Regional Organ Bank of Illinois, 800 S Wells, Suite 190, Chicago, IL 60607

Institutional Cooperation leading to Increase in Organ Donation.

Adedeji Adefuye MBBS, MPH, Martin Mozes MD, Shaffdeen Amuwo MPH, PhD

Various efforts have been made to motivate populations to donate organs and design the best interventions targeted to such populations. The most prevalent reasons for increases in organ donation has been the effectiveness of cooperative or coalition efforts between community groups, organ procurement organizations and research institutions.

Such cooperation was formed in 19998 between the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois and the Illinois Secretary of States office targeting African Americans in Chicago who had a donor registration 22% points below the state average. The coalition had the strength of experience of an organ procurement organization, community research experience of the University and governmental support of the Secretary of State.

Two educational interventions were carried out at a drivers license facility for six months. The secretary of state's office provided rates of registration into the donor registry and registrants' names over the intervention and the pre and pos-intervention periods.

The two most important indices of a successful organ donation intervention drive; rate of "Declaration of Intent to Donate" and "Family Discussion" improved during this intervention, and by our judgment the coalition was a success. Along the road however, the learnt great lessons about working within coalitions. Most important of this was the recognition of stakeholders' roles and being able to carry everybody along.

Coalitions of this type works and can be of tremendous value in community based research and empowerment if stakeholders recognize their roles and are willing to give total commitment.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of cooperation among academic institutions, governmental agencies, and non profit organization in community empowerment. 2.Recognize the importance of carrying stakeholders along in any coalition project or research endeavor.
• Recognize the importance of community effort in increasing organ donation

Keywords: Collaboration, Community Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.