The assessment of knowledge and attitudes towards organ transplantation to declarations of giving organs in different social groups

Background. Organ transplantation has become a routine medical procedure, but the number of waiting patients consistently is much higher than the pool of available organs. Legal, social and educational campaigns help to increase the number of donors. There is a need for searching mechanisms to make decisions regarding organ donation and to assess attitudes and knowledge of different social groups in order to identify educational needs.

Aim. The aim of the study was to assess of knowledge and attitudes towards organ transplantation to declarations of giving organs in different social groups.

Material and methods. The study group was consisted of 191people (135 F, 56 M) at the age from 16 to 61 years (mean age 26,86 ± 12,88) participated in educational meetings concerning organ donation (students, teachers, nurses). Survey tool included the Questionnaire: Study of attitudes towards transplantation consists of 26 closed questions (with the consent of the Krakow Statistical Office).

Results. 97,38% of the respondents accept transplantation from living donors, 95.8% accept from people who died.There is no difference between acceptation organ transplantation and groups. 67% of respondent agree to be a living a donor, 78,53% respondents agree to give their organ after death. There was a statistical difference between readiness to give bone marrow(p = 0,008), give organs as living donors (p = 0,004) and readiness to sign a donor card p = 0,031 as well as between group and knowledge and attitudes.

Conclusions. The study group is mostly positive about the treatment of organ and tissue transplantation as well as declare to willingness to give organ after death. Demographic variables differentiate these attitudes. There is a need for improve knowledge through education.

Nursing Topics 2015; 23 (1): 40–45