Training on organ donation in primary care centers: level of acceptance among primary care personnel

Abstract

Background. Information about organ transplantation and donation provided by primary care (PC) personnel has a strong impact on the attitude people have toward donation. However, these professionals often lack the training necessary to be able to pass on this information in a clear, concise, and precise way. This study was designed to determine the level of acceptance among PC professionals in Spain to a training course about donation and the implementation of an institutional program on donation at a global level in its basic health plan. Subjects and Methods. A random sample of PC personnel stratified by sex, job category, and geographical location (n = 428). Professionals from 32 health centers in Spain were included in the study. The objective was evaluated using a questionnaire on organ donation and transplantation distributed to physicians, nurses, and nonmedical personnel. Results. Of those who filled out the questionnaires, 76% (n = 325) favored donation, 1% (n = 5) were against it, and 23% (n = 98) were undecided. With respect to participating in a training course for PC personnel, 54% (n = 233) considered that it would be useful, regardless of job category (p = 0.181). When we evaluated the attitude to the course according to attitude to donation, 40% of those who were against donation and 46% of those who were undecided would take part in the proposed training course. As for having a health promotion program on donation integrated at the PC level, 66% (n = 283) considered that it would be useful. No differences were seen in this attitude according to job category (p = 0.119). Eleven percent (n = 47) believed that other, more important health programs needed to be set up at the PC level first. Conclusion. The introduction of a training course about organ donation at the PC level would be of dubious value given that the personnel who are against or undecided about donation show a low predisposition to participating, and they would be the target population of such a course.