title: Level of acceptance of a clinical solid organ xenotransplantation program among personnel in organ transplant-related services in Spanish, Mexican, and Cuban hospital centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xenotransplantation is far from becoming a clinical reality. However, in vital organs it could be used as a bridge until a human organ becomes available, in an emergency situation. We analyzed the attitude toward xenotransplantation among personnel in transplant-related services in several hospitals in Spain and Latin America.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample stratified by type of service and job category (n = 738), in transplant-related services (procurement units, transplant units, and transplant patient follow-up units) was examined in eight hospital centers from three different countries: Spain (n = 349), Mexico (n = 269), and Cuba (n = 120). A self-administered validated questionnaire was completed anonymously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the assumption that all the results of xenotransplantation were similar to those achieved with human donors, most respondents [66% (n = 484)] would be in favor. The employees from Cuban centers had the most favorable attitudes (72% in favor), followed by the Spanish (64%) and the Mexicans (61%; P = .013). However, the differences were mainly determined by job category: Physicians showed the most favorable attitudes and auxiliary staff the least (67% vs 40%; P = .010). Attitudes were significantly related to beliefs about different types of human donation [deceased (P < .001) and living (P < .001)], the possibility of needing a transplant for oneself (P < .001), and a favorable attitude toward donating the organs of a deceased family member (P = .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently, a third of health care employees working in transplant-related services are not in favor of xenotransplantation. More information should be provided about the subject, especially in centers with preclinical xenotransplantation programs.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Servicio Murciano de Salud, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Alarcón
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ayala-García
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sebastián
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdo-Cuza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Navas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suárez-López
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002102:Cadaver; D003462:Cuba; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D008800:Mexico; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014180:Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000523:psychology*