Attitudes Toward and Knowledge of Brain Death and Deceased Organ Donation Among Anesthesiologists in the Northeastern Region of Poland

BACKGROUND

Because in Poland transplant of organs from deceased donors is the predominant form of transplant, anesthesiology and intensive care specialists play a key role in the process. Insight into the work organization in intensive care units, anesthesiologists' and intensivists' level of knowledge and expertise, as well as personal opinions regarding declaring brain death and critical care of potential donors may be helpful in increasing transplant rates.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this survey was to identify factors and challenges influencing donation rates in intensive care units of hospitals of various reference levels in region.

METHODS

An anonymous, 31-question survey was sent to anesthesiology and intensive care specialists working in hospitals in one of the regions of eastern Poland. The survey was completed by 133 physicians, and a quantitative analysis was conducted on the data collected from submitted answers.

RESULTS

The average age of responders was 46 years (±10.24 years). Anesthesiology and intensive care specialists made up 80.45% of respondents. A vast majority of respondents (97%) expressed positive attitude toward transplant and are willing to donate their organs after death (92.19%). Meanwhile, more than 50% of them admit their lack of sufficient knowledge when it comes to declaring brain death. More than 53% of surveyed physicians have never had the opportunity to participate in training in methodology in performing brain death provided by their hospital or know about such training taking place. A vast majority of respondents (94.76%) see the need for workshops in potential organ donor care and brain death determination and would like to attend them.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a positive outlook toward organ donation and transplant but at the same time reveals a lack of knowledge and expertise among doctors working in intensive care units. That is why implementing education tools for identification, declaration, and maintenance of brain-dead donors could be one of the keys to enhancing donation.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Willingness Toward Organ Donation Among Health Professionals in China

BACKGROUND

The purposes of this study were to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward organ donation among the health professionals in China.

METHODS

Questionnaires were delivered to 400 health professionals from 7 hospitals in Dalian and 1 hospital in Chaozhou of China between October 2013 and January 2014.

RESULTS

In all, 400 health professionals were approached, 373 valid responses were returned. Over 90% of the participants knew about organ donation, but only 17.4% had taken part in some training courses or lectures about organ donation. Health professionals (64.9%) knew the shortage status of organ, and doctors knew more than nurses and nonclinical staffs (P < 0.01). Health professionals (97.3%) knew brain death, and 68.9% professionals thought brain death was the reasonable criteria to judge death. Doctors showed a higher knowledge level about brain death than nurses and nonclinical staffs (P < 0.01). Altogether, 60.1% approved deceased donation; however, only 48.5% approved living donation. Doctors' attitudes were more positive than nurses and nonclinical both in deceased donation (P < 0.01) and in living donation (P < 0.05). In all, 49.3% were willing to donate their own organs postmortem, and doctors had higher willingness to donation postmortem compared with nurses and nonclinical staffs (P < 0.01). The most (49.2%) commonly cited reason for refraining from donation was: "afraid that organs would be picked up inhumanely and body would be disfigured".

CONCLUSIONS

Health professionals showed lower favorable attitudes and willingness toward organ donation than Chinese general public. A proportion of Chinese health professionals' knowledge about organ donation was limited.