Groundbreaking research project uses 4,000
state employees to examine worksite promotion
of organ donation

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDLWD) is just one of 45 organizations across New Jersey that has agreed to participate in New Jersey Workplace Partnership for Life (NJ WPFL), the largest public health study of organ donation in the workplace setting in U.S. history.

NJ WPFL is a three-year (August 2004 - August 2007), $1.7 million research project developed to examine the most effective methods to promote organ donation in the workplace. The project, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, is a collaboration between New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network (NJ Sharing Network) and leading researchers at Purdue University. The results of the project will be shared with the 58 other organ procurement organizations across the country who will use this invaluable information to help direct, refine and enhance their efforts to promote organ donation.

As a participating company, NJDLWD is taking part in a 10-week high-intensity worksite campaign. Promotional literature and electronic messages are disseminated to all employees on a weekly basis. Literature includes donor registry brochures and the organization’s bi-monthly newsletter with a testimonial article from a NJDLWD employee touched by donation. Each email news blast lists the truth about two or three of the most common myths and misconceptions about organ donation and transplantation. Dozens of posters and table tents promoting organ donation are also on display.

In addition to the many internal communication messages sent during the 10-week campaign, NJDLWD hosts four on-site information table events. NJ WPFL staff and volunteers distribute literature and free promotional items, answer questions, and help employees to complete donor registry applications. An average of 40 NJDLWD employees has registered with the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Donor Registry at each on-site information table event.

NJDLWD is participating in a high-intensity worksite campaign. There are three possible types of worksite campaigns being studied as part of NJ WPFL. Project researchers determine the appropriate campaign type for each of the 45 participating companies. To identify which campaign type works best, employees are surveyed about their attitudes and beliefs about organ donation. They are surveyed before and after the 10-week worksite campaign. The amount of change in their attitudes and beliefs, along with many other factors, will help researchers to determine the most effective ways to promote organ donation in the workplace setting.