Transplantation procedures in social awareness opinion poll of Silesian Province citizens on living donor organ transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine the opinion of Silesian Province citizens on living organ transplantation (Tx).


METHODS
The materials in the study were the opinions of 1100 respondents selected from a representative group of adult citizens collected in 2002 using a public opinion poll. During the data collection a questionnaire interview was used, the result of which were subjected to a quantitative statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Of respondents, 83.1% do but 11.0% do not accept living organ Tx. 92.1% would give his organ for Tx to a relative, 80.5%--a friend and 54.3%--a strange person. The most common motives of potential agreement for living organ donation are awareness of helping another person (43.6%) or a relative (27.0%) as well as conviction of safety of organ harvesting procedure (10.0%). The most common motives of concern are fear of losing one's health (40.1%), poor state of health (13.8%) and fear of organ harvesting (9.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Silesian Province citizens accept living organ Tx as a way of treatment of patients with end stage organ failure. The main motive of agreement for living organ donation is awareness of helping another person or a relative, and the most common motive of concern is fear of losing one's health.
Ziaja
Jacek
J
Department of General, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. jziaja@slam.katowice.pl
Cierpka
Lech
L
Król
Robert
R
Szczepański
Marek S
MS
Tyrybon
Małgorzata
M
Sekta
Sylwia
S
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011044:Poland; D011639:Public Opinion; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data