Attitude toward organ donation: a survey in Pakistan

This study was conducted to get an insight into the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the people of Pakistan regarding organ donation (OD), and to understand the various factors that influence these. Systematic sampling was used to generate a sample size of 357. Data collection was carried out via a questionnaire in the outpatient units of our hospital. All kinds of medical and surgical patients were interviewed. Knowledge of ODs that occur in Pakistan and the rest of the world was found to be 65.5 and 72.8%, respectively. The percentage of those willing to donate their organ/s was 59.9%. Knowledge of OD was significantly associated with education and socioeconomic status. Willingness to donate had a significant association with gender. It also had a moderate association with education and socioeconomic status. Awareness of OD and the knowledge that OD can save lives was also significantly associated with the willingness to donate.     

Attitudes toward organ donation among waitlisted transplant patients: results of a cross‐sectional survey

Organ shortage remains a major barrier to transplantation. While many efforts have focused on educating the general population regarding donation, few studies have examined knowledge regarding donation and donor registration rates among waitlisted candidates. We aimed to determine waitlisted patients' willingness to donate, elucidate attitudes surrounding organ allocation, and identify barriers to donation. A cross‐sectional survey was distributed to assess demographics, knowledge regarding organ donation, and attitudes regarding the allocation process. Responses from 225 of 579 (39%) waitlisted patients were collected. Seventy‐one respondents (32%) were registered donors, while 64 patients (28%) noted no interest in participating in donation. A total of 19% of respondents felt their medical treatment would change by being a donor, while 86 patients (38%) felt their condition precluded them from donation. Forty patients (18%) felt they should be prioritized on the waitlist if they agreed to donate. A minority of patients (28%) reported discussion of organ donation with their physician. Waitlisted candidates constitute a population of willing, although often unregistered, organ donors. Moreover, many endorse misconceptions regarding the allocation process and their donation eligibility. In a population for which transplantation is not always possible, education is needed regarding organ donation among waitlisted patients, as this may enhance donation rates.     

Public attitudes toward organ donation: A survey in a Turkish community

Abstract. A survey of public attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation was conducted in a Turkish community. The 1030 subjects were chosen using a random, stratified method. Some 50.5% of those interviewed were willing to donate their organs while 33.7% refused and 15.8% were uncertain. A total of 53.6% said they would consent to donate a deceased relative's organs. Reasons for refusal to donate organs were as follows: fear that their body would be cut into pieces (43.8%), religious beliefs (26.2%), no reason (23.1%) and the belief that they would need their body and organs for their second life (6.9%). Attitudes toward organ donation were clearly related to level of education, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.     

Evaluation of attitudes toward living organ donation: a multicenter study of compulsory secondary school education teachers

Background

There is a considerable transplant organ deficit. To offset the organ shortage, living donation is being encouraged. Young persons form a sector of the population in whom early awareness is important to encourage favorable attitudes toward donation. Teachers play important roles in education and in generating attitudes.

Purpose

We analyzed the attitudes of secondary school teachers toward living organ donation and sought to determine the psychosocial variables that affect these attitudes.

Materials and methods

We randomly selected Teachers from 10 secondary schools in southeastern Spain. Their attitudes toward living donation were evaluated using a validated questionnaire, which was self-administered anonymously. The statistical tests were Student t test and the χ² test.

Results

Regarding living kidney donation, 92% of teachers were in favor of related donation, decreasing to 16% when it was not from a related individual. In contrast, regarding related donations, 7% were not in favor, and 1% undecided. Teachers who had discussed the matter with their family and friends had more favorable attitudes (P < .05). In the case of living liver donations, 91% were in favor of related donation (falling to 20% if not related), 7% were not in favor, and 2% had doubts. Attitudes were more favorable among women, teachers with children, and those who had discussed the matter with their family and friends (P < .05).

Conclusions

Teachers had favorable attitudes toward living related kidney or liver donation. Their students would receive positive information when they request relevant information.     

Attitudes of resident doctors toward different types of organ donation in a Spanish transplant hospital

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to analyze acceptance of cadaveric and living organ donation for transplantation among resident doctors, given that they are the new professionals of medicine who will have to encourage and develop transplant programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random survey was performed on resident doctors in a third-level hospital with an organ transplant program which is accredited for undergraduate and postgraduate education (n = 171). Attitudes toward cadaveric and living donation were evaluated using a questionnaire including various psychosocial variables that might affect such attitudes. We used the Student t test and the chi-square test. RESULTS: The sample was composed of responses by 171 resident doctors of mean age 28 +/- 4 years with 56% women. Attitudes toward cadaveric donation were favorable in 92% (n = 157). As for living donation, the percentage in favor of nonrelated donation was low: 23% for kidney and 19% for liver. However, when the donation was from a relative, the percentages increased to levels similar to those of cadaveric donation, namely 88% and 85% for kidney and liver, respectively. No differences were observed in attitudes toward cadaveric or living donation according to various psychosocial variables. CONCLUSIONS: The trainee doctors showed favorable attitudes toward human cadaveric organ donation as well as living related donation, which suggests a relaunch of living donors in the near future. However, there was not much acceptance of nonrelated donation, as has also been seen in studies of the general public in our geographical area.     

Public attitudes toward organ donation

A survey of public attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation was conducted in a Turkish community. The 1030 subjects were chosen using a random, stratified method. Some 50.5% of those interviewed were willing to donate their organs while 33.7% refused and 15.8% were uncertain. A total of 53.6% said they would consent to donate a deceased relative's organs. Reasons for refusal to donate organs were as follows: fear that their body would be cut into pieces (43.8%), religious beliefs (26.2%), no reason (23.1%) and the belief that they would need their body and organs for their second life (6.9%). Attitudes toward organ donation were clearly related to level of education, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.     

Attitudes toward death criteria and organ donation among healthcare personnel and the general public

OBJECTIVE: To examine attitudes toward death criteria and their relation to attitudes and behaviors regarding organ donation. DATA SOURCES: This article reviews empirical studies on the attitudes of healthcare personnel and the general public regarding death criteria and organ donation. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: The review was restricted to studies that had as a primary focus attitudes toward 1 or more of the following 3 specific criteria for determining death: (1) brain death, the irreversible loss of all functions of the entire brain; (2) higher brain death, the loss of cerebral cortex function alone; and (3) the circulatory-respiratory criteria commonly used in donation after cardiac death. DATA SYNTHESIS: Studies consistently show that the general public and some medical personnel are inadequately familiar with the legal and medical status of brain death; attitudes toward the dead donor rule are strong predictors of willingness to donate organs using controversial criteria; concerns about donation after cardiac death surround the withdrawal of life support more than the actual death criteria used; and concerns about death criteria correlate with less favorable attitudes toward organ donation. CONCLUSIONS: Both general and ethical education may serve to guide policy and facilitate family member requests and informed consent dialogues. Furthermore, helping families to understand and accept not only medical and legal criteria for determining death, but also ethical criteria for withdrawing life support may help them be more comfortable with their decisions.     

Knowledge about transplantation and attitudes toward organ donation: a survey among medical students in northeast Brazil

During the registration for the second semester of 2002, 779 of the 1001 students from the Medical School, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, answered an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire including demographic variables, knowledge about transplantation issues, and willingness to donate organs. Mean age was 21.9 +/- 2.9 years (range: 17 to 51 years); 59.5% were men. Regarding the knowledge of which organs and tissues could be transplanted, 99.1% answered kidneys, 96.1% heart, 88.2% liver, 41.1% lung, 24.0% pancreas, 9% bowel, 98.3% corneas, 89.5% bone marrow, 38.1% heart valves, 47.7% skin, and 18.5% bone and tendons. Regarding the criteria of death, 82.4% answered that it is the lack of all brain activity, 8.2% cardiac arrest, 5.2% irreversible coma, and 4.2% did not know. As to the Brazilian transplantation law, 47.3% did not know, 51% had heard about it, and 1.7% answered that they knew the law in detail. As to the willingness to donate organs, 538 (69.2%) were donors. Of 239 nondonors, 51.1% answered the reason for not donating was the lack of confidence in the heath system, 14.3% had no knowledge of the matter, 17.7% were concerned about organ removal before brain death, and 1.7% for religious reasons. The percentage of those willing to donate organs was greater among spiritualists than among Catholics and Protestants. The results of this study support a greater emphasis on providing information regarding transplantation in medical schools to improve the knowledge of future heath care professionals about transplantation and organ donation issues.