Understanding and Perceptions of Skin Donation and Skin Banking among Health Care Professionals – Tertiary Care Centre in Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: The skin is our body’s most diverse organ. Other organs, such as the kidneys and liver, could be impaired and somehow still function, but the loss of 40percent of someone’s skin can be fatal. In developing countries, burns led to the deaths of the majority of people. The study aimed to establish the relationship between medical professionals’ awareness and attitudes regarding skin donation and skin banking. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, AIIMS, Odisha, between August 2020 to November 2020. A total of 124 health care practitioners from AIIMS, BBSR responded to the survey questions. It is divided into five sections: Social and economic data; Skin donation awareness survey, and skin bank attitude scale. Results: Less than half of health care professionals, 53.74 %, reported a lack of awareness of skin donation, and 56.16 per cent said lack of understanding of skin bank. The fair, positive relationship prevailed among skin donation awareness, and then either attitude (r=0.36, P=0.01), and a similar relationship existed between skin banking awareness and attitude (r=0.32, P=0.01). According to the report’s findings, having a clear understanding of skin donation and skin banking leads to positive behaviours. Conclusion: In this review, health care professionals’ awareness of skin donation and skin banking is average. Hospital and nursing administrators should be actively involved in education programmes to enhance nurses’ education and increase awareness about skin donation and skin banking.