Effect of Web-Based Training for Department of Motor Vehicle Staff on Donor Designation Rates: Results of a Statewide Randomized Trial

Abstract

On approach to addressing the continual shortage of organ donors is to encourage people to join a state donor registry. Joining the registry saves time and assures family members that organ donation is what their loved one would want. However, fewer than half of adults have taken this step. We tested a brief, webbased training program for department of motor vehicles (DMV) staff that educates them about organ and tissue donation and also models the correct way to interact with customers. The intervention was developed with extensive input and active participation from DMV staff. After a small-scale pilot test, all DMV offices across the state of West Virginia (WV) were randomized to receive the training or serve as a comparison group. The results showed that customers of DMV staff who had received the training were 7.5% more likely to register as organ donors. A conservative estimate is that this generates approximately 800 additional donor designations per month. An important aspect of webbased training is that once it has been deployed, it can continue to be used without incurring additional cost; the state of WV currently requires all new employees to complete the training program. This type of training can be adopted nationwide.

Determinants of organ donation registration

“…This was anecdotally successful in increasing rates of organ donor registration, yet through cost‐benefit analyses continued management of the DMV was impossible. Other interventions have successfully documented the increase organ donor registration due to DMV staff training, which may be a promising product to disseminate . Furthermore, there may be limited utilization of the services provided at the DMVs in communities with lower income due to lack of car ownership related to higher concentrated disadvantage.…”

“…In West Virginia, staff improved donor registration rates after completing a web‐based training. To expand their impact, these trainings have been offered to be more widely accessible for staff in other DMVs . In addition, mood during DMV experiences was asked about in 3 different models to ultimately elucidate whether frustration at the office was related to organ donor registration.…”

An evaluation of a motor vehicle facility campaign with an established statewide donor registry: A test of sustainable, evidence‐based intervention strategies

“…The sheer number of MVF campaigns is impressive and because of this literature, a formula for what works has emerged. Specifically, MVF campaigns featuring trained MVF clerks, an interpersonal component, video narratives, and point‐of‐decision materials are more likely to increase organ donation registration rates compared to interventions without these elements. That said, these intervention components have demonstrated effectiveness at increasing registrations most typically when statewide registrations are relatively new; however, their effectiveness in MVFs with a mature registry remains understudied (see Ref.…”

“…However, one potential downside of relying on volunteers to communicate about organ donation is the cost of managing, organizing, and training those volunteers . Given the influential role interpersonal interactions play inside MVFs, researchers have studied how to train MVF clerks, an improved sustainable alternative to volunteers, to improve their interpersonal interactions with customers regarding organ donation, while at the same time increasing their knowledge about organ donation . Despite the critical nature of MVF clerks in the enrollment process, research has shown that MVF clerks often do not consistently broach the topic of organ donation and unfortunately do not score much better on organ donation knowledge questionnaires than the general public .…”

“…For instance, Harrison et al (2008) recruited MVF clerks in Kentucky for a 1‐hour intervention focused on educating clerks on the state organ donor registry, general information about organ donation and transplantation, as well as communication strategies for interacting with MVF patrons. Most recently, Degenholtz et al (2015) tested the efficacy of a brief, web‐based training for MVF staff in West Virginia focused on general information about organ donation, as well as communication strategies for interacting with customers. Their results demonstrated that customers of MVF staff members receiving the training were 7.5% more likely to register, representing a conservative estimate of approximately 800 additional donor designations per month.…”