Organ donation: Attitude and knowledge of nurses in South Africa

Abstract

Various factors influence the process of organ donation. As a result, there is a shortage of organs for transplant. Poor communication and cooperation between transplant coordinators and intensive care nursing staff can lead to the non-referral of potential organ donors, which is detrimental to the process. The purpose of this research was to ascertain the attitude and knowledge of the transplant coordinators and intensive care nursing staff that work in intensive care units during organ donation. Contextual descriptive research was carried out by compiling literature-based questionnaires, one each for the transplant coordinators and intensive care nursing staff, and then analysing responses. The indications are that problem areas exist between the role players in the organ transplant process. Guidelines were drawn up for the improvement of communication and cooperation between them in order to promote organ donation.

Attitude of Nursing Staff toward Organ Donation in a Spanish Hospital with a Solid-Organ Transplant Program

“…These data confirm what has already been found in other European countries, where a negative attitude has been reported and where a lot of fear and uncertainty surrounds the topic of organ donation and transplantation. [13][14][15][23][24][25] In fact, when we analyze the studies reporting that nurses are in favor, 16,17,26 we see that most have very low questionnaire completion rates, which could cause a positive bias in the selection of the sample because persons who are in favor tend to be more prepared to complete the questionnaire than persons who are against or undecided, and this fact could explain the high favorable attitude. For example, in the study by Molzahn, 17 92% of nursing respondents are in favor, but the survey completion rate is only 50%.…”

“…In this situation, it is a matter of great concern that various studies have shown that organ donation and transplantation generate stress among nurses and that nurses lack information on the topic, [13][14][15][16] although some authors 17 report that nurses have a very favorable attitude.…”

Nurses’ knowledge about and attitudes toward organ donation in state and private hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa

“…International and SA research have shown that this type of uncertainty can hinder organ donation in a highly pressurised clinical environment where organisational routine and structured interaction are essential for its success. [5,12] Our study revealed that the lack of knowledge about organ donation and uncertainty about policies and roles in organ donation may also be explained by a lack of formal organ donation education for nurses in the Johannesburg region. However, nurses in the private sector scored higher on the knowledge component of the questionnaire compared with those in the state sector.…”

Perceptions of nurses’ roles in end-of-life care and organ donation – imposition or obligation?

“…Again, local studies have confirmed that most trainee/qualified nurses and medical students are in favour of organ donation, and their stance is influenced more by education regarding organ donation than gender, cultural identity or ethnicity. [4][5][6] So why are our organ-donor rates still so frustratingly low? Low donation rates have been the focus of many international transplant communities.…”