Acceptance of Solid Organ Xenotransplantation by the Ecuadorian Population Residing in Spain

Ecuadorians are the largest immigrant group in Spain. In countries with preclinical programs of xenotransplantation (XenoTx), it is important to know the population attitude toward them; however, in the Ecuadorian population it is not known.

To analyze the attitude toward XenoTx of organs among the Ecuadorian population residing in Spain.

Population under study. Ecuadorians residing in Spain.

Sample of population over 15 years stratified by age and sex. Instrument valuation. Validated questionnaire of attitude towards xenotransplantation PCID-XenoTx-Ríos. Setting for the study. Random selection of people to survey based on stratification.

Of the 461 respondents, 36% are in favor of XenoTx if the results were similar to those obtained with humans, 15% against, and 49% undecided. If the results were worse than with human organs, 11% would be in favor, 26% against, and 63% undecided. The variables associated with this attitude are age (P = .018), marital status (P = .026), studies (P < .001), comment with family (P = .001), couple attitude (P = .039), attitude toward cadaveric donation (P < .001), previous experience with donation (P = .001), consider the possibility of needing a transplant in the future (P < .001), and attitude toward related living donation (P < .001). In the multivariate analysis, these data persist: university studies (odds ratio [OR] = 3.875; P = .007); in favor of cadaveric organ donation (OR = 2.840; P < .001); previous relationship with donation and organ transplantation (OR = 1.901; P = .026); and consider the possibility of needing a transplant in the future (OR = 4.329; P = .002).

The attitude toward XenoTx among Ecuadorian residents in Spain is unfavorable and is conditioned by different psychosocial variables.