Knowledge and attitudes about deceased donor organ donation in Filipinos: a qualitative assessment

Fewer ethnic minorities, especially Asian-Americans, become organ donors. There are cultural, religious, and personal barriers to becoming a designated organ donor. Factors that promote or inhibit organ donation in Asians, especially Filipinos, are not well understood. We conducted a series of focus groups to identify barriers and facilitators to organ donation (deceased donor) among Filipinos. Six focus groups were conducted with church members, adolescents, nurses, physicians, organ recipients, and organ donor families. The mean age of adult participants (n = 57) was 52.3 +/- 15 years, 83% were Catholic, and 72% were female. A qualitative theme analysis methodology identified dominant themes related to organ donation in the participants. The major themes were: awareness of organ donation (38%), family beliefs (25%), religion/spirituality (10%), attitude/emotions (10%), personal experience with organ donation (8%), health profession (6%), and cultural issues (3%). Seventy-five percent of the comments about awareness reflected a positive awareness of cultural issues regarding organ donation, and the rest reflected a lack of awareness or misconceptions. Almost every theme was mentioned in all six focus groups. Understanding a specific ethnic group's knowledge, attitudes, and cultural beliefs regarding organ donation is important in the development of educational campaigns to encourage organ donation in ethnic minority populations.     

Attitudes toward organ donation: a survey on Iranian teachers

Background

Organs from brain dead patients are the main source for transplantation. However, in most societies, including Iran, the family consent rate for organ donation is low necessitating improvements in public knowledge. Because teachers' knowledge has an important role to educate the next generations, this study assessed their knowledge and attitudes about brain death and organ donation.

Methods

The present cross-sectional study included, 93 teachers selected from eight schools in Tehran, Iran, in 2009. We used a standardized questionnaire containing items which inquired about knowledge and attitudes of the participants regarding brain death and organ donation.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 37 years and 48 (52%) were males. Eighty-seven (94%) of them had heard or read about organ donation, among whom 91% favored organ donation. The main sources of their information were television, radio, and newspapers. Sixty-five (70%) were willing to donate their own organs after death. Those with lower organ donation desire were in contact with a small number of patients who have chronic diseases, had less trust in organ donation networks and brain death diagnostic tools, expressed less desire to receive an organ, and had a low record of blood donation (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings show that although most teachers had heard or read about brain death and organ donation, and approved of organ donation after death, a lack of exposure to patients with chronic diseases and a distrust of organ donation networks were greater among teachers with a lower desire to participate in this effort. Therefore, building trust in brain death diagnostic systems is necessary together with relevant educational programs.     

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.     

A Swedish survey of young people's views on organ donation and transplantation

The aim of this study is to explore young people's attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge on organ donation and transplantation. A survey was conducted among 1,447 students aged 15-18 years in four urban areas in Sweden. Although students looked upon organ transplantation favorably, only 50% were willing to donate their own organs, and only 20% the organs of their parents. Concerning organ donation, 75% of the students expressed some discomfort. There were significant gender differences. About 70% of the students indicated that transplantation issues should be included in the school curriculum. It is concluded that teenagers feel irresolution and discomfort regarding organ donation after death, but concurrently see organ transplantation as a highly valued service. One way that this mental conflict can be resolved is through education. Educational programs in school must address this ambivalence and both mediate facts and help students to work through the fear and discomfort associated with organ donation.     

Hospital attitude survey on organ donation in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy

The role of hospital staff in the organ procurement process is crucial. Nevertheless, there is little literature about their attitudes toward donation. The Donor Action Hospital Attitude Survey (HAS) comprises a series of questions to assess hospital staff's attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge on organ donation and transplantation. Further analysis of the data will help identify any weak areas in the staff viewpoint and information, highlight potential needs for more education on specific issues, and establish a baseline to monitor future improvements. We used the Donor Action HAS in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. The aim of this paper is to assess and better understand the personnel's viewpoint in the 12 main hospitals of the region. The survey was carried out among hospital staff involved in organ donation. 1576 responses were collected (52 % of distributed questionnaires), of which 1024 came from nurses, 475 from physicians, and 77 from other backgrounds. Questions were subdivided into categories, and for every point an overall mark (maximum 3/3) was calculated. Results: 1. Involvement in donation process during the past year: 1.24 /3, 2. Attitudes to organ donation (OD): 2.51 /3, 3. Skills / Self-confidence in donation practices: 1.36 /3, 4. Satisfaction with local transplant coordinator (TC) services: 2.31 /3. The attitude towards organ donation was positive, 1386 respondents support organ donation. A high percentage (93.6 % of respondents) is of the opinion that transplantation helps save other people's lives. Most uncertainty arises on the question whether donation helps families with grief. It is remarkable that only 53 % of those prepared to donate organs have informed the family of their wish. Many respondents do not feel comfortable performing key tasks close to donation. Major difficulties were observed in explaining to a family the concept of brain death (0.98 /3). Knowledge on the concept of brain-death was one of the most requested subjects for improvement. Emilia-Romagna is the region with one of the highest donation rates in Italy (29.9 pmp in 2000). Nevertheless, more profound knowledge of the local situation could help further improve donation. Received: 12 July 2000 Revised: 25 May 2001 Accepted: 10 September 2001     

人类器官移植供体来源的发展历程

移植器官来源模式是科学技术发展和人文精神升华完美结合的产物.移植器官来源经历了异种动物、死刑遗体、亲属活体、脑死亡供体、亲属活体+非亲属活体、心死亡供体、多种来源这7个不同的历史阶段.异种移植离临床应用遥远;死刑来源倍受批评;活体移植伤害健康人.器官捐献移植发展史证明,公民逝世后器官捐献值得大力推广.以美国全脑死亡器官捐献和英国脑干死亡器官捐献为代表的美-欧模式,均为生前自愿同意,且绝对无偿.公民认为任何形式的补偿都会改变捐献行为本来的性质.心死亡器官捐献是脑死亡器官捐献的补充,适用于既不符合脑死亡标准又无法救治,同时家属又有强烈捐献意愿者.     

The Latin American population in Spain and organ donation. Attitude toward deceased organ donation and organ donation rates

The Latin American (LA) population has similarities with the Spanish population which makes its integration into Spanish society easier. Objective: to analyze the attitude toward organ donation among Latin American citizens residing in Spain, to determine the psychosocial variables which affect this attitude, and to examine the correlation between donation rates of LA citizens in Spain and in their countries of origin. A random sample of LA residents in Spain was taken and stratified according to the respondent's nationality (n = 1.314), in the year 2010. Attitude was assessed using a validated questionnaire (PCID‐DTO Dr Rios). The survey was self‐administered and completed anonymously. Statistical analysis: Student's t‐test, the χ² test, and logistic regression analysis. There was a 94% completion rate (n = 1.237). Attitude toward donation was favorable in 60% of cases (n = 745), 12% (n = 145) were against, and 28% (n = 347) were undecided. The following variables were associated with attitude toward donation: sex (P = 0.038), level of formal education (P < 0.001), country of origin (P = 0.002), attitude toward the donation of a family member's organs (P < 0.001), having discussed donation with the family (P < 0.001), carrying out prosocial activities (P = 0.025), attitude toward cremation of the body (P < 0.001), attitude toward burial of the body (P < 0.001), attitude toward having an autopsy carried out (P < 0.001), previous experience of the organ donation and transplantation process (P < 0.001), fear of mutilation after donation (P < 0.001), knowledge that the Church has a positive attitude toward organ donation and transplantation (P < 0.001), knowledge of one's partner's attitude toward organ donation (P < 0.001), and a belief that one might need a transplant in the future (P < 0.001). The donation rates in this population group in Spain are higher than those recorded in their countries of origin (55.76 vs. <10 pmp; P < 0.001). The attitude toward organ donation among LA citizens residing in Spain is slightly worse than that reported in the native Spanish population and is determined by many psychosocial factors. The donation rates of LA citizens in Spain are higher than those in their countries of origin.     

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.