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Revista de la Facultad de Medicina

Print version ISSN 0120-0011

Abstract

CASTANEDA-MILLAN, David Andrés et al. Attitudes and beliefs about organ donation in Colombia: How to undertake efforts to increase national donation rates?. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2014, vol.62, n.1, pp.17-25. ISSN 0120-0011.  https://doi.org/10.15446/revfacmed.v62n1.43660.

Background. In Colombia, organ transplantation has been practiced during four decades. Currently, in the country qualified transplantation teams perform advanced surgical-clinical approaches; however, in recent years, official data shows a significant decrease in donation rates and organ transplantation. Objective. The present study aims to evaluate attitudes and beliefs of Colombian people about organ donation and transplantation, in order to identify problems and develop strategies to promote organ donation. Materials and methods. This is a descriptive transversal study. From May 22 to June 2, 600 people, in major Colombian cities, were interviewed by phone, through a structured survey on donation and organ transplantation. Data on demographic variables and attitudes about donation were analyzed by variational logistic regression; the results are expressed on frequencies and odds ratio. Results. 90.6% agrees with organ donation, 81.8% would donate their organs after death, 75.69% would donate relative´s organs, 92.76% would donate one of their organs while being alive, 37.98% have expressed to their families their will to donate their organs when dead, 49.53% doesn't conceive brain death as death, 95.36% haven't received information about donation, 4.86% have donation card and 34.98% have a hostile concept about Colombian transplant model. Educational level turned to be a protective factor and age a risk factor for negative attitudes about donation and transplantation. Conclusions. Despite an overall good attitude towards organ donation, Colombian people are not well informed on main features of donation and transplant. It is imperative to overcome limitations originated in misinformation and to create a transplantation culture through information directed to people from low socioeconomic and educational status as well as to population elder than 55 years old. Colombia has the challenge to provide citizens with the skills they require to make informed choices about donation and to clarify them the concept of encephalic death. Furthermore, medical staff must develop strategies to increase living related donor transplant.

Keywords : Tissue and Organ Procurement; Brain Death; Organ Transplantation; Health Knowledge; Attitudes; Practices.

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