Knowledge and Attitude towards Organ Donation amongst Patients‘ Attendants at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi

Dr Madhu Upadhyay; Pranay Kumar

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2017

Knowledge and Attitude towards Organ Donation amongst Patients‘ Attendants at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi

Dr Madhu Upadhyay, Pranay Kumar

Abstract :

Context: Each year thousands of lives are lost worldwide for want of human organs. The gap between supply and demand of human organs is constantly widening. First step towards idging this gap would be to assess the existing knowledge of people towards organ donation and dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding it.

Aims: To assess the knowledge, attitude and willingness towards organ donation amongst patients’ attendants and elicit factors determining their willingness towards organ donation.

Settings and Design: Hospital based Cross sectional study

Methods and Material: 390 attendants aged between 18 – 60 years accompanying patients to various out patients’ departments were interviewed using predesigned semi–structured interview schedule.

Statistical analysis: The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Simple descriptive tabulation was done for socio–demographic variables, sources of information and attitude towards organ donation. Knowledge score was computed. To find out association between willingness for organ donation and various socio–demographic variables and level of knowledge, Chi square test or Fisher’s exact test was used.

Results: Most participants were (83%) were aware that organs can be donated. Majority of subjects knew that kidney (92.3%), eye (86.4%) and liver (81.8%) can be donated but knowledge about donation of other organs was very low. None of the participants had good knowledge about organ donation. Statistically significant association was seen between age and willingness to donate. Females, those who were married and had satisfactory level of knowledge showed greater willingness for organ donation.

Conclusion: Lack of knowledge about organ donations, religious and superstitious beliefs and misconceptions are the major impediments in the way of organ donation.