Public awareness and acceptance of tissue and organ donation

Organ donation is a worldwide problem especially in developing countries due to lack of knowledge about brain death and organ transplantation as well as traditional values and beliefs. Limited data are available concerning public knowledge and awareness of organ donation and transplantation in Turkey. A prospective study was carried out and data (n=774) were gathered from a structured questionnaire. The results indicated that 96.6% of participants had heard of organ donation and transplantation, 91.8% approved donation, and 59.2% would consider donating organs of their own. 62.6% were unaware of the donation law. As 81.7% of participants were interested in having more information on the issue, information booklets covering brain death, donation law and the organ donation process may increase donation of organs.