Attitude of nursing staff toward organ donation in a Spanish hospital with a solid-organ transplant program

Nursing personnel are fundamental in the organ donation and transplantation process, and their attitude toward donation has a decisive effect on patients, patients' families, and the general public.

To analyze the attitudes of nursing personnel toward donation in a transplant hospital and the factors that determine those attitudes.

A random sample of 305 nurses in different hospital services was taken and stratified by type of service. A validated psychosocial questionnaire was used to evaluate attitudes toward donation. The survey was completed anonymously and was self-administered. Student t test, chi2 test, and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Most respondents (63%) favored organ donation. The following variables affected attitude: (1) having a favorable attitude toward donation of a family member's organs (P < .001), (2) knowing the concept of brain death (P < .001), (3) having discussed organ donation and transplantation within the family (P = .001), (4) having a favorable attitude toward autopsy (P = .006), (5) fearing mutilation of the body (P < .001), (6) a partner's attitude toward organ donation and transplantation (P < .001), and (7) the respondent's religion (P = .009). Multivariate analysis yielded the following significant factors: (1) fear of mutilation of the body (odds ratio, 9.5), (2) partner's attitude toward organ donation and transplantation (odds ratio, 0.2), and (3) respondent's religion (odds ratio, 2.7).

Attitudes toward organ donation among nurses are similar to attitudes of the general public in Spain. Given the influence of nurses on the general public, promotional campaigns directed at nurses are a priority.