Does religious attitude affect organ donation and transplantation?

Determination and Comparison of the Attitudes of Nursing and Theology Students Toward Organ Donation: Descriptive and Cross-Sectional Study

This study was conducted to determine and compare the attitudes of nursing and Theology students toward organ donation. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 350 nursing and Theology students in Türkiye. An Information Form and the Organ Donation Attitudes Scale were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 26.0 software. The mean age of the students participating in the study was 22.59 ± 4.48 years, and 66% were female. 55.7% of the students were Theology students, and 44.3% were nursing students. The mean score for humanity and moral conviction was 92.43 ± 20.72, the mean score for fears of medical neglect was 28.89 ± 9.98, and the mean score for fears of bodily mutilation was 32.13 ± 10.21. It was found that nursing students' positive attitudes (humanity and moral conviction) toward organ donation were significantly higher, and negative attitudes (fears of medical neglect and fears of bodily mutilation) were significantly lower than Theology students (P < .05). The students' attitudes toward humanity and moral conviction regarding organ donation are positive, while their attitudes toward fears of medical neglect and bodily mutilation are negative. Nursing students' attitudes toward both humanity and moral conviction, and fears of medical neglect and bodily mutilation are more positive than the attitudes of Theology students. It is recommended that informative training on organ donation and transplantation processes should be organized in cooperation with nurses and religious leaders.

Attitudes toward organ donation among university students in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional survey

Introduction

Organ transplantation is a vital treatment for end-stage organ failure. However, the shortage of available organs remains a significant challenge worldwide. This study aimed to explore university students' willingness to donate organs, including their views on brain death, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods

The study is cross-sectional survey on the respondents' knowledge of, attitudes toward, and perceived barriers to and facilitators of organ donation. A total of 521 students completed the survey. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to identify the factors associated with their willingness to donate their organs after death.

Results

Most of the respondents (69%) were willing to donate their organs after death, and 79% were willing to donate their organs to a loved one during their lifetime. However, only 42.8% accepted brain death as equivalent to death. The most reported reasons behind the respondents' willingness to donate organs were the belief that it is something everyone should do (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.68) and a responsibility to help loved ones (aOR: 2.63). Meanwhile, the significant barriers to organ donation included a preference for whole-body burial (aOR: 0.079), religious objections (aOR: 0.195), and family objections (aOR: 0.326).

Discussion

University students in the UAE show a positive attitude toward organ donation. However, significant barriers, including family and religious objections, remain to be addressed. Increasing public awareness about brain death and establishing mechanisms for securing family consent in advance are crucial steps for the successful implementation of a deceased organ donation program in the UAE.

The Level of Knowledge of Organ Transplantation and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation of Carers of Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

Purpose: Renal transplantation is the most effective treatment method for chronic renal failure and helps improve the quality of life of patients and caregivers.In the present study, the purpose was to determine the knowledge level of the primary caregivers of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment about organ transplantation and their attitudes toward organ donation.Method: The study was conducted in a descriptive fashion with the relatives of 71 patients who were receiving treatment in the hemodialysis unit for the end-stage renal failure of a state hospital between 01.08.2022 and 15.10.2022. The data of the study were collected face to face with a questionnaire form, Organ Donation Attitude Scale, and Organ Tissue Donation and Transplantation Information Scale. The SPSS 24 package program was used in the analysis of the data. Descriptive statistics, numbers, percentages, and mean values were used in the analysis of the data. The One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test was used to evaluate the homogeneity of the data. The Studentt test, the One-Way Analysis of Variance, the Kruskal-Wallis Test, and the Tukey Post-Hoc Test were used for the analysis between the groups. Statistical significance was taken as p < .05.Results: The benevolence and moral values/beliefs sub-dimension score average of the participants was found to be 98.44 ± 14.61, the fear of medical neglect was 32.10 ± 10.09, and the mean bodily injury sub-dimension score was 30.45 ± 11.28. It was also found that the mean score of the Organ-Tissue Donation and Transplant Information Scale was 11.41 ± 2.59. A statistically significant and negative relationship was detected between the participants' medical neglect and bodily injury attitudes and the Organ-Tissue Donation and Transplant Information Scale score averages (p < .05).Conclusion and Suggestions: As a result, it was found that the positive attitudes of the caregivers of individuals receiving hemodialysis treatment about organ donation were at a good level, and as the level of organ transplantation knowledge increased, negative attitudes towards organ donation decreased. In this context, it can be suggested that healthcare professionals provide training on organ transplantation and donation to the relatives of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment.

Barriers and facilitators of deceased organ donation among Muslims living globally: An integrative systematic review

AIM

To identify the barriers and facilitators of deceased organ donation among the Muslim community living globally.

METHOD

A systematic search was undertaken in databases such as CINAHL, Medline with full text, Global Health and PsycINFO via EBSCO; Scopus via Elsevier; Web of Science via Clarivate; and PubMed via US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health were used to retrieve the studies on the 31st of December 2023. Apart from these databases two other journals, the Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation, and the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Transplantation were also used to search for relevant studies. Quantitative and qualitative studies that addressed the aim of the present review published from the 30th of April 2008 were included.

RESULTS

Of the 10,474 studies, 95 studies were included in the review. The following five themes were generated based on narrative synthesis: 1) knowledge of organ donation, 2) willingness to donate, 3) community influence, 4) bodily influence, and 5) religious influence. While individuals view organ donation as a noble act, societal influences significantly impact their decision to register. Concerns include religious permissibility, potential misuse for commercial purposes, and the dignity and respect given to the deceased donor's body.

CONCLUSIONS

This review finds deceased organ donation decisions in this population are collective, influenced by religious views, and hindered by uncertainty. Interventional studies on strategies to address uncertainty could help us identify best practices for this population to improve deceased organ donation. Rather than an individual approach among this population, a whole-system approach, tailored-made evidence-guided community engagement could improve donation rates.

Turkish anatomists' preferences to continue teaching after death and how it is impacted by their religious beliefs

The attitudes of anatomists toward donating their own bodies are a question of matter in the literature of medicine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the attitudes of Turkish anatomists regarding the donation of their own bodies as teaching material after death. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among anatomists in Türkiye during the months of March and April 2023. An online survey was carried out by means of a questionnaire constructed using Google Forms©. The survey consisted of a demographic data part, Likert-type multiple choice questions, open-ended questions, and yes-no questions. The questionnaire was answered by 133 anatomists from the anatomy departments in Türkiye. The mean age was 38.9 ± 7.30 years. 48% of the anatomists who answered were male and 52% were female. Most of the participants have a religious belief (90%). All of the participants with religious beliefs were members of the Islamic religion. Approximately 5% of the participants stated that they donated their bodies as cadavers. Anatomists suggested increasing body donation by 76.7% as a solution to cadaveric insufficiency. Although most anatomists state that there is a need for body donation, the rate of donating their own bodies seems quite low. We think that anatomists accept the importance of body donation, but they do not think of themselves as donors. They only recommend body donation to other people. We think that programs and activities should be planned especially for those who are uncertain about body donation and those who only donate organs but do not donate bodies.

Attitudes and Willingness of Patients Toward Organ Donation and Distrust in the Health Care System: Insights from Turkish Family Physicians

OBJECTIVES

Organ transplant recipients express trust in their physicians with the phrase, "I entrust my life first to Allah and then to you." However, trust is not reflected in organ donor rates in Turkey despite the rising incidence of end-stage organ failures. The aim of this study was to map individuals' attitudes, willingness, and behavior toward organ donation, relationships with distrust in the health care system, religious aspects, and demographic variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a descriptive cross-sectional approach, a face-to-face questionnaire was issued to randomly selected 557 patients in family medicine clinics of 2 tertiary hospitals in Istanbul City. Positive and negative attitudes' subscales of the organ donation attitude scale and distrust in the health care system scale were used.

RESULTS

The organ donation rate was 12.4%, and 37.9% of participants were willing to donate. A higher education level revealed higher rates of willingness but did not supply a higher donation rate (P = .001, P = .048). The liver was the organ with the most potential to donate (90.3%). The average positive and negative attitude scores toward organ donation were 48.10 ± 21.41 and 72.11 ± 26.47, highlighting negative tendency. The rate of refusals donated for religious reasons was 30.1%. It was observed that individuals who religiously refused organ donation were less willing to donate and showed higher distrust in the health care system (P < .001; P < .001), but they exhibited more positive and less negative donation attitude scores vs others (P < .001; P < .001). Approximately half of the participants reported awareness of organ donation law and brain death principles supporting a significantly higher donation rate (P < .001; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight a crucial mismatch among willingness, attitudes, distrust, religious aspects, and actual behavior regarding organ donation. Strategically, educational materials and interventions on relevant laws, brain death principles, and reasons for becoming donors may be more effective than focusing solely on increasing donation rates.

Attitudes Toward Organ Donation and Sense of Compassion in Nursing Students

This descriptive type of study was conducted on students studying in the nursing department to determine the relationship between their attitudes toward organ donation and their sense of compassion. Data were collected for students’ sociodemographic characteristics, the Organ Donation Attitude Scale (ODAS), and the compassion scale. The mean age of the participants was 20.40 ± 1.87, 79.7% were female, and 92.8% stated that the kidney could be donated. A very weak negative relationship was found between ODAS positive attitude and negative attitude scores. Between ODAS positive attitudes and the subscales of the compassion scale, it was determined that there was a significant positive correlation with kindness, a weak negative correlation with indifference, a weak positive correlation with common humanity, a weak negative correlation with separation, a weak positive correlation with mindfulness, and a weak negative correlation with disengagement. Nursing students’ organ donation attitudes are affected by compassion.

Religious attitude and sense of citizenship effect on organ donation in nursing students: A cross-sectional study

AIM

This study examined the effect of religious attitude and sense of citizenship to organ donation attitudes and organ donation willingness among nursing students.

BACKGROUND

Organ donation is an issue that should be evaluated together with medical, religious, social, economic, cultural, legal and ethical variables. However, there is no research examining the effect of religious attitudes or sense of citizenship on organ donation attitudes and willingness.

DESIGN

A descriptive, correlational study.

METHODS

A total of 225 nursing students participated in the study between February and April 2020. The data were collected with the Ok-Religious Attitude Scale, the Sense of Citizenship Scale, an Organ Donation Questionnaire and the Organ Donation Attitude Scale.

RESULTS

A sample of 187 nursing students participated; 50.8% of them were in the stage of thinking about organ donation willingness. Older nursing students (β =.231, p<.001) was positively affected to the positive organ donation attitude, while being male (β = -.151, p=.035) was negatively affected. Male gender (β=0.201, p=.004) was positively affected to the negative organ donation attitude. Acceptance of differences (β=-0.262, p<.001) and relationship with God score (β=-0.189, p=.006) were negatively affected to the negative organ donation attitude. Regarding the participants' willingness to donate, acceptance of differences (β=.213, p=.004) was found to be a significant predictor.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, it was found that being female, relationship with God and acceptance of differences had a positive effect on organ donation attitude. Acceptance of differences was found as important factor in organ donation willingness.

Organ donation decision-making in ICU patients: from the perspectives of organ coordinators and physicians in China - a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

Intensive care unit (ICU) dying patients are the most important source of organ donation. This study explores the reasons affecting organ donation in the Chinese sociocultural context from the perspectives of coordinators and physicians, and further seeks countermeasures to alleviate the shortage of organs.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Semistructured interviews conducted in a large tertiary hospital in China.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHOD

15 respondents (including 8 organ coordinators and 7 ICU physicians) were interviewed. Participants were invited to describe the factors that influence organ donation and the underlying reasons behind it. Bronfenbrenner's socioecological system model was used as theoretical support to construct a theoretical model of the factors influencing organ donation. Respondents participated in semistructured qualitative interviews that were audio-recorded and transcribed. The relevant data were analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes that influenced organ donation were identified including the influence of the deceased person's attributes, immediate family members, surrounding people and the environment, and the social-level factors. In addition, we obtained four strategies from the interviews to improve the organ shortage to ameliorate the current supply-demand imbalance in organ donation. These include multilevel publicity, relevant policy support, increasing other forms of supply and reducing organ demand.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors affecting organ donation after the death of a Chinese citizen include the personal characteristics of the donor, the decisions of family members such as immediate family members and the indirect influence of surrounding people such as collateral family members, in addition to factors related to the humanistic environment, religious beliefs and social opinion.

Acceptance of xenotransplantation by patients waiting for organ donation: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the acceptance and barriers to xenotransplantation in patients waiting for organ transplantation.

METHODS

It is qualitative and descriptive research. It was completed with 18 patients receiving treatment and waiting for organ transplantation in a dialysis center located in the inner region of Turkey between January 26, 2023 and February 3, 2023. Data were collected with an introductory information form and a semi-structured interview form. The research data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews. The content analysis method was used to analyze the data. In line with the goal of reaching data saturation, in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 participants who were open to communication.

RESULTS

Two main themes, "Values" and "Thoughts", and five sub-themes, "social and religious values, positive, negative and future thoughts", were identified. Thirteen codes were created including "not being understood by the society, xenotransplantation prejudice, fear of ridicule and exclusion, religious pressure, desire for unconditional acceptance/rejection" and "thought of survival, hope, thought of sinning, submission to doctors, the attitude of religious men and excessive demand".

CONCLUSIONS

Patients awaiting organ transplantation need religious, social, and community support for xenotransplantation.

Public Awareness and Intention in Organ Donation Through Mobile Applications

In response to combatting COVID-19 and to ease the traceability of immunization, the Mysejahtera mobile application has been rolled out nationwide in Malaysia by the Ministry of Health. However, the usage of this application in public health has been decreasing as the pandemic situation becomes more manageable. Subsequently, new features including the pledge for organ donation have been introduced. Yet, the number of organ donors remain low. In supporting the growth of digital health, this study aims to determine the factors contributing to the awareness, attitude, and intention of Malaysians to register as organ donors in this application. A quantitative approach is applied, whereby purpose sampling is used. The sample size taken is 400 respondents, and structural equation modelling (SEM) method is utilised to validate the model. This study shed light on the public's awareness and their willingness to use mobile app for organ donation purposes. The result is expected to assist policymakers in developing effective strategies and to successfully manage organ donation in Mysejahtera.

'Be the Match'. Predictors of Decisions Concerning Registration as a Potential Bone Marrow Donor-A Psycho-Socio-Demographic Study

(1) Background: The study was aimed at a better understanding of the factors determining making a decision to become a potential bone marrow donor, in a Polish research sample; (2) Methods: The data was collected using a self-report questionnaire among persons who voluntarily participated in the study concerning donation, conducted on a sample of the Polish population via Internet. The study included 533 respondents (345 females and 188 males), aged 18-49. Relationships between the decision about registration as potential bone marrow donor and psycho-socio-demographic factors were estimated using the machine learning methods (binary logistic regression and classification & regression tree); (3) Results. The applied methods coherently emphasized the crucial role of personal experiences in making the decision about willingness for potential donation, f.e. familiarity with the potential donor. They also indicated religious issues and negative health state assessment as main decision-making destimulators; (4) Conclusions. The results of the study may contribute to an increase in the effectiveness of recruitment actions by more precise personalization of popularizing-recruitment actions addressed to the potential donors. It was found that selected machine learning methods are interesting set of analyses, increasing the prognostic accuracy and quality of the proposed model.

Attitudes of people with multiple sclerosis toward brain donation

Objective

Research directly examining brain tissue has played an important role in understanding the pathology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases of the central nervous system. Such research relies heavily on donations of post-mortem brain tissue yet little is known about the attitudes of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) about brain donation. We aimed to assess the attitudes of people with MS toward brain donation, their preferences related to discussions of brain donation, and factors associated with attitudes toward brain donation including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, health literacy and religiosity.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, we surveyed participants in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry regarding their attitudes toward brain donation, reasons for participating or not participating in brain donation, and related communication preferences. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to test factors associated with attitudes regarding brain donation.

Results

Most of the 4,520 participants were women (80.8%), self-identified as white (88.1%), with a post-secondary education, functional health literacy and moderate-severe disability. Sixty-two percent of participants would consider brain donation. Factors associated with considering brain donation included female gender, having a post-secondary education, being physically active, having moderate-severe disability and more comorbidities, and alcohol intake. Seventy-five percent of participants indicated that they preferred to receive information regarding brain donations from physicians.

Conclusion

Two-thirds of people with MS would consider brain donation. People with MS desire to hear about brain donation from their health care providers rather than other sources.

Perception of Brazilian medical students toward organ donation

OBJECTIVE

Brazil ranks second in gross numbers of kidney and liver transplantations, but deceased organ donation is still far below the national demand for organs. Apart from a high family refusal rate, another significant barrier is healthcare workers' inappropriate knowledge concerning organ donation and transplantation. Since most of them have recently graduated from university, this study aimed to evaluate the awareness and attitudes of medical students concerning organ donation.

METHODS

Between August and September 2021, a web-based survey with 10 overlapping questions was sent to medical students from several Brazilian universities after advertisements on social media.

RESULTS

A total of 391 (60% female, mean age: 23 [17-41] years) students answered the survey. Most of them (91%) would like to donate organs in case of death, and 75% have already notified their family. The main reasons for not becoming a donor were fear of body manipulation (n=3) or family reaction (n=2) and religious reasons (n=2). When inquired, 54% were unaware of brain death criteria, and half of them claimed to have never discussed the topic in medical classes. Except for Glasgow coma scale (97%), pupillary (72%), and corneal (53%) reflexes, less than 25% knew other reflexes required for brain death diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Most medical students declared themselves as organ donors, and most informed their families. However, many students have never learned about crucial steps toward organ donation, which may impact their adequate recognition of potential organ donors later in life.

The New Age of Organ Donation-What Factors Have an Influence on the Attitude of Older People? An Attitudinal Survey in Southeastern Spain

Currently, more than half of all donors are aged over 65 years, and previous studies have shown that this group is less willing to support organ donation. Objective: to analyse the attitude of people aged over 65 years toward organ donation and transplantation (ODT) and to determine how their psychosocial profile affects their attitude. Study population: citizens residing in southeastern Spain older than 65 years of age. A representative sample was obtained, which was stratified by gender and geographical location (n = 420). A validated questionnaire about ODT was used. Statistical analysis: a bivariate analysis was performed using the X2 test and a multivariate analysis. The favourable attitude toward the donation of one’s own organs was 53%. The psychosocial variables affecting attitude were mainly: having discussed ODT with one’s family (p < 0.001) or friends (OR 2.223), acceptance of cremation (OR 2.508), and acceptance of an autopsy (OR 2.578). Citizens aged over 65 tend to have an unfavourable attitude toward the donation of their own organs. The lack of dialogue about ODT in social and family settings, and the attitude to the manipulation of one’s own body after death, are aspects of a respondent’s psychosocial profile, which influence this attitude.