A Multicenter Study on Attitude Toward Organ Donation in Spain and Latin America Between the Surgical Units of 12 Hospitals

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 7 - 9
• Main Authors: Ríos, A, Martínez-Alarcón, L, López-Navas, A.I, Ayala-García, M.A, Sebastián, M.J, Abdo-Cuza, A, González, B, Ramírez, P, Ramis, G, Parrilla, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2015
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Attitude of Health Personnel; Costa Rica; Cuba; Female; Humans; Male; Medical Staff, Hospital - psychology; Mexico; Middle Aged; Personnel, Hospital - psychology; Sex Factors; Spain; Surgery; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Cuba; Mexico; Costa Rica; Spain
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.11.023

Abstract Introduction Medical advances and improvements in surgical techniques have transformed transplantation into an ever safer therapeutic option. However, its main limitation is the shortage of available organs. Therefore, it is necessary to join forces to achieve optimal deceased donation and prevent the loss of potential donors. We sought to analyze the acceptance of deceased organ donation (OD) among hospital personnel in surgical units in hospitals in Spain and Latin America. Method A random sample (n = 554) was taken was stratified according to surgical services and job category in 12 hospitals—4 in Spain (n = 294 participants), 5 in Mexico (n = 202), 2 in Cuba (n = 41), and 1 in Costa Rica (n = 17). Attitude was assessed using a questionnaire validated, which was completed anonymously and self-administered. The χ2 test, Student t  test, and a logistic regression analysis were used. Results Overall, 75% of respondents (n = 417) were in favor of deceased OD and 25% were against it (n = 137). Regarding the respondent's country, there was a favorable attitude among 88% of Cubans, 85% of Mexicans, 82% of Costa Ricans, and 67% of Spaniards ( P  < .001). The physicians were most in favor of OD with 87% supporting it (n = 149), followed by nurses (n = 182) and ancillary personnel (n = 28) both at 74%, and the health care assistants at 59% (n = 58; P  < .001). The following factors affect attitude toward OD: young age (37 ± 10 years; P  = .001), being a male ( P  = .018), having an unstable job situation ( P  = .009), a belief that one might need a future transplant ( P  = .036), having a favorable attitude toward living donation ( P  < .001), being in favor of donating a family member's organs ( P  < .001), having had a family discussion about OD ( P  < .001), and a partner's favorable attitude ( P  < .001). Conclusions Attitude toward OD among surgeons in hospitals in Spain and Latin America was not as favorable as we might have expected.