Promoting deceased organ and tissue donation registration in family physician waiting rooms (RegisterNow-1): a pragmatic stepped-wedge, cluster randomized controlled registry trial

Organ Donation: Behaviour and Beliefs in Sweden

Introduction

Barely one-fifth of people in Sweden have expressed their will regarding organ donation in the national Swedish Donor Registry, and the number of organ donations in Sweden remains low.

Objective

The aim of this study was to map behaviour and beliefs regarding organ donation in Sweden.

Methods

In a descriptive cross-sectional survey following a quantitative approach and 600 questionnaires were issued to randomly selected individuals across Sweden. Of them, 206 (36.3%) were completed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented as frequencies and percentages. Analytical statistical testing involved Pearson chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results

The results indicate a discrepancy between positive opinion about organ donation in Sweden and the number of people enrolled in the Swedish Donation Registry. The most common argument for not wanting to donate organs was the notion of being too old to. Although self-rated knowledge about organ donation was admittedly low, so was interest in interest in learning more about it. Younger patients more frequently wanted information than older patients did.

Conclusion

Not wanting to donate organs due to age and/or illness may indicate a misconception. Making one's will known does not involve assessing one's health status or age but solely concerns the wish to do so. The findings thus raise an important question: How can people's interest in learning more about organ donation be induced in ethical ways?

Knowledge and attitude regarding organ donation among medical students in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional study

Objectives

The rate of organ donation in Hong Kong is among the lowest in developed regions. Since medical students will play an important role in counselling patients for organ donation and identifying potential donors in the future, their knowledge, attitudes and action for organ donation are important. This study aims to understand knowledge, attitudes and actions with regard to organ donation among medical students and investigate the factors determining the knowledge and attitudes.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting and participants

Medical students in Hong Kong were invited to complete a questionnaire. 377 medical students participated in the study.

Methods

The questionnaire assessed their attitudes, knowledge, action of organ donation, belief and perception on organ donation, and other factors. Linear regression analyses and logistic regression were performed to analyse the effect of the variables on knowledge, attitudes and action for organ donation.

Results

Almost all medical students (99.5%) held a positive attitude towards organ donation, but only 28.1% have signed up as organ donors. Determinants of knowledge of organ donation included belief in preservation of intact body after death (β = –0.14, 95% CI = –0.24 to –0.04) and perceived confidence and competence of organ donation discussion (β = –0.12, 95% CI = –0.22 to –0.02). Predictors of organ donor registration status included knowledge of organ donation (OR=1.03, 95% CI=1.00 to 1.06), perceived convenience of organ donation registration (OR=3.75, 95% CI=1.62 to 8.71), commitment to organ donation (OR=3.81, 95% CI=2.01 to 7.21) and exposure to organ donation (OR=4.28, 95% CI=2.37 to 7.74).

Conclusions

Knowledge is positively associated with organ donation action. The above determinants of organ donation could be emphasised in medical education.