Perceptions and attitudes towards organ donation among people seeking healthcare in tertiary care centers of coastal south India

Abstract

Background:Organ transplantation is the most preferred treatment modality for end-stage organ diseases. The need for the transplants is higher than the availability. Prerequisites for the success of transplantation program include awareness and positive attitudes.Aim:To assess the perceptions and attitudes of the people seeking health care in tertiary care centers towards organ donation in Mangalore, India.Settings and Design:This cross-sectional study included 863 people seeking general healthcare as outpatients.Materials and Methods:Face to face interviews were carried out using pretested tools which included the socio demographic data. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 11.5.Results:Overall, 59.6% participants showed the willingness to donate organs. Females (64.1%) and participants from upper socio economic status (62.7%) had higher willingness rates for organ donations. Hindus (63.6%) and Christians (63.3%) had higher willingness rates for organ donations than Muslims (38.2%). Also, 23.7% participants showed willingness to donate eyes and 33.6% wished to donate any organ after death. Most of the participants (67%) were aware that money should not be accepted for donating organs, and 58.1% were aware that it is an offence to accept any benefit for organ donations. Forty percent participants had perceived risks associated with organ donation. Regarding donor cards, 42.3% of the participants knew about it and 3.7% already possessed it.Conclusion:It is apparent from the study that though there was high level of awareness about organ donation, a high proportion of the participants did not have positive attitudes towards organ donation.

Knowledge, attitude, and perception on organ donation among undergraduate medical and nursing students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in the southern part of India: A cross-sectional study

“…Other similar studies have shown that 60%–80% of the study participants agreed to the same. [102728] Among the medical students in our study, 56.8% of them also agreed with the same, and this was also supported by another study conducted in the southern part of India. [13] This shows the attitude of the study participants on consent for organ donation from the family members and also the importance of gaining family's permission before retrieval.…”

“…[1013] This could have been attributed due to the differences of opinion from various religious groups, which has been proved in other studies. [272930] The median score for the statement on willingness to donate their organs was higher (4 [4–5]) in our study [Table 3] similar to studies;[1011132831] however, further questions were not asked if they have signed an organ donor card which could have informed us about their practice.…”

Knowledge and attitude of adults on kidney donation in selected village of Udupi district, Karnataka.

“…This study also reported that knowledge and age were not significantly associated (5). The study carried out by Mithra P et.al showed that 59.6% of the participants expressed willingness to donate organs (4).…”

“…In India, despite the Transplant of Human Organs Act (THO), neither has the commerce stopped nor have the number of deceased donors increased to take care of organ shortage [2]. The studies carried out in India stresses the importance of increased public awareness on the need for deceased donor organs [3,4,5 ]. Problems and mortality among people with kidney disease are increasing that necessitates the importance of finding the knowledge and attitude of adults about kidney donation.…”

Barriers and facilitators of intention to organ donation among general people in state of Puducherry: a cross sectional study

“…The dominant parts (80.6%) of members in our investigation knew about organ gift and these discoveries are like those of past studies. 5,17,18 The examination populace said positive reaction for their own particular organ to be given. This finding was more obvious and it was considerably higher than the discoveries from a study, where 19.3% respondents showed them not willing to be living organ contributors.…”