Challenging issues of overseas transplantation in mainland China: Taiwan organ transplant health professionals' perspective
Journal
Transplantation Proceedings
Journal Volume
42
Journal Issue
10
Pages
3917-3920
Date Issued
2010
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective As the source of organs is limited in Taiwan, and communication systems are becoming more open between Taiwan and mainland China, the call for overseas transplantation in mainland China is increasing in Taiwan. This study explored the perspectives of Taiwan organ transplant health professionals on the challenging issues related to transplantation procedures in mainland China, including health professionalism as well as collaborative systems for information and communication technologies (ICTs). Methods A purposive sample including overseas transplant surgeons (OTS), registered nurses (RN), overseas transplant coordinating nurses (OTCN), and e-health ICTs experts (eh-ICTs) was obtained from two medical centers in Taipei. Subjects underwent face-to-face interviews with data subjected to content analysis. Results The 70 subjects included OTS (n = 20), RN (n = 25), OTCN (n = 15), and eh-ICTs (n = 10). Their ages ranged from 23 to 63 years old (mean, 33.7 years). The current challenges were identified: (a) lack of workable collaborative systems for continuous medical care between two parties due to different medical recording systems in particular (86%, n = 60; OTS, n = 19; RN, n = 21; OTCN, n = 10; eh-ICTs, n = 10); (b) lack of mutual trustworthy relationships between medical delivery systems (84%, n = 59; OTS, n = 17; RN, n = 22; OTCN, n = 10; eh-ICTs, n = 10); (c) lack of accreditation systems to judge possible conflicts related to medical diagnosis and treatment protocols (79%, n = 55; OTS, n = 19; RN, n = 19; OTCN, n = 7; eh-ICTs, n = 10); (d) Taiwanese hesitation regarding the quality of transplant procedures in mainland China (71%, n = 50; OTS, n = 18; RN, n = 17; OTCN, n = 8; eh-ICTs, n = 7); and (e) stress from concerns of Taiwan medical societies about the benefits of collaboration with mainland China (64%, n = 45; OTS, n = 13; RN, n = 18; OTCN, n = 8; eh-ICTs n = 6). Conclusion This discussion is still ongoing. Trapped by the limited organ source and confronted by multiple challenges revealed in this project, Taiwan societies have suggested to initiate interdisciplinary communication avenues. Starting with less culturally confounded issues such as establishing a reliable ICTs system (ie, e-health documents) may be more appreciated by the two parties in the near future. ? 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Other Subjects
accreditation; adult; age distribution; China; clinical protocol; conference paper; content analysis; controlled study; health care; health care quality; health practitioner; human; information system; interpersonal communication; interview; medical society; normal human; organ transplantation; overseas transplant coordinating nurse; priority journal; professionalism; quality control; registered nurse; surgeon; Taiwan; university hospital; Adult; China; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Organ Transplantation; Taiwan; Travel
Type
conference paper