How informed are the Saudi public about the value of organ donation: A community-based cross-sectional study

Organ transplantation is often the ideal option for some end-stage organ diseases. However, organ donation is not keeping pace with growing demand for it. Saudi Arabia has one of the widest gaps between supply and demand with respect to transplants, estimated at 2-4 per million population. The purpose of this study is to survey the public's perceptions and opinion about organ donation and transplants in general. This is a cross-sectional study targeting the age group of 18-60 years as they represent potential organ donors in any community. An Arabic-language questionnaire was distributed online. The questionnaire comprised specific questions to assess participants' willingness to donate their organs. The study included 1453 Saudi adults. More than two-thirds (77.7%) expressed a willingness to donate. Interestingly, 325 (22.3%) refused organ donation in principle. Of the participants, 329 (29.1%) were willing to donate only to their relatives. Among those over 40 years, 77.4% were willing to donate to anyone in the community, compared to 78% of those under 40 years, P <0.001. Positive attitudes toward organ donation are evident in the high number of people willing to donate their organs.