Attitude of primary healthcare personnel toward living donation: A multicenter study in the southeast of Spain

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attitude of primary healthcare personnel toward living donation and the psychosocial variables that affect this attitude. METHODS: A random sample was taken of 428 primary healthcare employees in 32 healthcare centers (October 2002 and October 2003). The sample was stratifi ed by job category and geographical location. Attitude was evaluated using a validated questionnaire that was completed anonymously and was self-administered. RESULTS: Attitudes toward living donation are favorable in 90% and 88% of respondents to kidney and liver donation respectively, although these percentages fall to only 18% and 17% if the donation is not related. This positive attitude is related to the following variables: (1) a favorable attitude toward deceased-donor donation; (2) discussion of the subject within the family or with the respondent's partner; (3) having attended to a transplant patient; (4) a respondent's belief that he or she might need a transplant one day and (5) a willingness to receive a living organ if one were needed in the future, and (6) a relationship has also been found between a favorable attitude and a willingness to receive a living organ from a relative (p = .000). CONCLUSION: Primary healthcare personnel have a favorable attitude toward related living donation and there are no differences in attitude according to the type of organ. Attitude is infl uenced by variables that are closely related to a respondent's willingness to receive a living donated organ if one were needed and having discussed the subject within the family.