PhD Student

First Supervisor: Dr Gurch Randhawa
Second Supervisor: Dr Erica Cook

Title of the Research

Socio-Ecological Perspective on Deceased Organ Donation from Two Diverse Regions in India

Abstract

Background: The law towards organ donation in India was framed in the year 1994. Since then the field of transplantation has seen an exponential growth compared to its complementary field – Organ Donation. Also, Organ Donation Rate in India is varied across the regions. Studies till date from positivist point of view suggest religion as a major contributing factor, but there have been no further studies which have understood this gap from the subjectivist point of view. Also, studies have shown centres with high and low conversion rates but never further studied on how those centres manage organ donation. Aim: Therefore, this study will further build on the research gap identified to understand on how two regions with varied performance behave, from the philosophical paradigm of social constructivism and that the place or group where they live in is influenced by the socio-ecological model. Method: This research will involve a systematic review to understand this population from the existing research. Also, from two diverse regions in India, a focus group discussion will be undertaken among community members from three major religions, and key-informant interviews with stakeholders involved in the making of a deceased organ donation. Discussion: This study will help to build an understanding on how people of different regions in India with varied performance have constructed their essence towards deceased organ donation. This study will lead to a novel way of understanding the problem in India from the research gap identified. The outcome of the study will help to frame strategies towards the improvisation in the field of organ donation in India.

Area of Interest

Organ Donation, Qualitative Research, Systematic reviews, Health Promotion, Health Inequalities, Health System Strengthening

Publications

• Vincent, B.P., Randhawa, G. and Cook, E., 2022. Barriers towards deceased organ donation among Indians living globally: an integrative systematic review using narrative synthesis. BMJ open, 12(5), p.e056094.
• Sivaraman, G., Lakshmanan, J., Vincent, B.P., Thulasingam, M., Raghavan, B., Raghu, N., Raja, K. and Saxena, S.K., 2022. ‘Shifting from anxiety to the new normal’: A qualitative exploration on personal protective equipment use by otorhinolaryngology health-care professionals during COVID-19 pandemic. Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal, 29(2), p.110.
• Vincent, B.P., Randhawa, G. and Cook, E., 2020. Barriers towards organ donor registration and consent among people of Indian origin living globally: a systematic review and integrative synthesis—protocol. BMJ open, 10(6), p.e035360.
• Thyagarajan, I., Shroff, S., Vincent, B.P., Rajendran, J., Kanvinde, H., Shankar, S. and Aneesh, K., 2020. Knowledge and practice of organ donation among police personnel in Tamil Nadu: a cross-sectional study.
• Vincent, B.P., Kumar, G., Parameswaran, S. and Kar, S.S., 2019. Barriers and suggestions towards deceased organ donation in a government tertiary care teaching hospital: Qualitative study using socio-ecological model framework. Indian Journal of Transplantation, 13(3), p.194.
• Vincent, B.P., Kumar, G., Parameswaran, S. and Kar, S.S., 2019. Knowledge, attitude, and perception on organ donation among undergraduate medical and nursing students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in the southern part of India: A cross-sectional study. Journal of education and health promotion, 8.
• Alex, A., Shroff, S., Vincent, B.P., Navin, S., Ramesh, P., Michael, J. and Menon, S., 2019. Did an increase in knowledge and awareness about organ donation improve organ donation rate in India over the past two decades? Indian Journal of Transplantation, 13(3), p.173.

Successful funding awards

• NHSBT – Organ Donation Curriculum Project. 2023 – 2024. Britzer Paul Vincent Paul Raj – Lead. Total funding - 10,000 GBP

Awards

• Young Investigator Award, 2021, Congress of Asian Society of Transplantation, Malaysia
• PhD Scholarship award, 2018, Global Challenges Research Fund, United Kingdom
• Best Paper Presentation Award, 2017, Indian Public Health Association state level meet, India
• Achieved National Merit List, 2016, Entrance exam for master’s in public health, India
• Silver Medal, 2015, Best Paper Presentation Award, International Conference for Physician Assistant, India

Conference presentations

• British Transplant Society. 2023. Edinburgh. Barriers and facilitators toward deceased organ donation among the Indian population from two diverse regions in India.
• British Transplant Society. 2023. Edinburgh. Barriers and facilitators toward the making of deceased organ donation from two diverse regions in India: A study among transplant coordinators.
• NHSBT Midlands Regional Collaborative. 2022. Birmingham. Barriers toward deceased organ donation consent in India.
• Congress of Asian Society of Transplantation. 2021. Malaysia. (Virtual conference). Barriers Toward Deceased Organ Donor Registration Among Indians Living in India and the United Kingdom: An Integrative Systematic Review Using Narrative Synthesis. (Awarded presentation - Young Investigator Award)

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Physician Assistant from The Tamil Nadu DR. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India
• Master’s in Public Health from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India

Experience

• Organ Donation Systematic Review Project Manager, University of Bedfordshire, UK
• Visiting Lecturer, Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, UK
• Research Assistant, Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, UK
• Postgraduate Research Representative, University of Bedfordshire, UK
• Physician Assistant Observer, Department of Cardiology, Chennai, India
• Physician Assistant & Research Officer, Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai, India
• Public Health Intern, MOHAN Foundation (Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network), Chennai, India

Other references

LinkedIn: Britzer Paul

Twitter: @BritzerV

Research Gate: Britzer Paul Vincent Paul Raj