Attitudes of non-medical staff in hospitals in Spain, Mexico, Cuba and Costa Rica towards organ donation.

INTRODUCTION: Non-medical staff members in hospitals are highly credible at population level, and are a source of opinion even though they do not have sufficient medical training. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the attitudes of non-medical professionals of Spanish and Latin American hospitals towards organ donation and identify the factors that influence these attitudes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Through the "Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante" (International Collaborative Donor Project), a stratified random sample was selected from non-medical services of eleven hospitals: 3 Spanish (n=277), 5 Mexican (n=632), 2 Cuban (n=42) and 1 Costa Rican (n=101). RESULTS: Of the 1052 professionals surveyed, 72% (n=754) were in favour of donating an organ after death. By country, 98% of Cubans, 80% of Mexicans, 66% of Costa Ricans and 52% of Spanish were in favour (P<.001). The most influential variables were: 1) country, with results being more positive in Mexico (odds ratio [OR]=2.197), 2) believing in the possibility that they will require a transplant (OR=2.202), 3) having discussed the issue with their family (OR=3.23), 4) the positive attitude of their partner towards donation (OR=3.322), 5) not being concerned about possible mutilation of their body after donation (OR=3.378), 6) preferring options other than burial (OR=2.525), 7) accepting an autopsy (OR=2.958). CONCLUSIONS: The attitude of non-medical staff members of hospitals towards the donation of their own organs varies greatly depending on the country of the respondent. Psychosocial factors that influence these attitudes are similar to those described at the population level.

Actitud hacia la donación de órganos del personal no sanitario de hospitales de España, México, Cuba y Costa Rica / Attitudes of non-medical staff in hospitals in Spain, Mexico, Cuba and Costa Rica towards organ donation

Introducción: El personal no sanitario de centros hospitalarios tiene una importante credibilidad a nivel poblacional, siendo un grupo generador de opinión sin formación sanitaria adecuada. Objetivo: Analizar la actitud hacia la donación de los órganos de los profesionales no sanitarios de hospitales españoles y latinoamericanos, y determinar los factores que condicionan dicha actitud. Material y métodos: Del Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante se selecciona una muestra aleatoria y estratificada entre los servicios no sanitarios de once hospitales: 3 españoles (n = 277), 5 mexicanos (n = 632), 2 cubanos (n = 42) y 1 costarricense (n = 101). Resultados: De los 1052 profesionales encuestados, el 72 % (n = 754) está a favor de la donación de órganos tras fallecer. Por país, el 98 % de los cubanos están a favor, el 80 % de los mexicanos, el 66 % de los costarricenses y el 52 % de los españoles (p < 0,001). Las variables con más peso son: 1) país, siendo más favorable en México (odds ratio [OR] = 2,197); 2) creer en la posibilidad de necesitar un trasplante (OR = 2,202); 3) haber comentado el tema con la familia (OR = 3,23); 4) actitud favorable de la pareja hacia la donación (OR = 3,322); 5) no estar preocupado por la posible mutilación del cuerpo tras la donación (OR = 3,378); 6) preferir otras opciones distintas de la inhumación (OR = 2,525); 7) aceptar la realización de una autopsia (OR = 2,958). Conclusiones: La actitud hacia la donación de órganos propios entre el personal no sanitario de centros hospitalarios presenta variaciones importantes según el país del encuestado. Los factores psicosociales que condicionan dicha actitud son similares a los descritos a nivel poblacional (AU)

Introduction: Non-medical staff members in hospitals are highly credible at population level, and are a source of opinion even though they do not have sufficient medical training. Objectives: To analyse the attitudes of non-medical professionals of Spanish and Latin American hospitals towards organ donation and identify the factors that influence these attitudes. Material and method: Through the "Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante" (International Collaborative Donor Project), a stratified random sample was selected from non-medical services of eleven hospitals: 3 Spanish (n=277), 5 Mexican (n=632), 2 Cuban (n=42) and 1 Costa Rican (n=101). Results: Of the 1052 professionals surveyed, 72% (n=754) were in favour of donating an organ after death. By country, 98% of Cubans, 80% of Mexicans, 66% of Costa Ricans and 52% of Spanish were in favour (P<.001). The most influential variables were: 1) country, with results being more positive in Mexico (odds ratio [OR]=2.197), 2) believing in the possibility that they will require a transplant (OR=2.202), 3) having discussed the issue with their family (OR=3.23), 4) the positive attitude of their partner towards donation (OR=3.322), 5) not being concerned about possible mutilation of their body after donation (OR=3.378), 6) preferring options other than burial (OR=2.525), 7) accepting an autopsy (OR=2.958). Conclusions: The attitude of non-medical staff members of hospitals towards the donation of their own organs varies greatly depending on the country of the respondent. Psychosocial factors that influence these attitudes are similar to those described at the population level (AU)