Knowledge and attitudes of physicians regarding organ donation

The objectives of this study were to describe Canadian physicians' knowledge, attitudes, commitment, and professional involvement relating to organ donation, and to identify factors related to personal commitment and professional involvement. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Mailed questionnaires were sent to 2,400 randomly selected physicians practising in Canada. A total of 831 physicians (34.6 per cent) responded. Over 95 per cent of the physicians who responded supported organ donation in principle, but only 63 per cent had signed organ donor cards. Physicians responded correctly on average to 68.3 per cent of the questions testing knowledge. Many respondents incorrectly answered questions on brain-death legislation and religious barriers to organ donation. Many physicians indicated their reluctance to approach relatives of potential organ donors. The predictors of their personal commitment to organ donation included positive attitudes, younger age, and female gender. In relation to professional involvement in organ donation, more knowledge, positive attitudes, younger age, male gender, and higher numbers of hospital beds were important predictors.