title: Level of acceptance of solid organ xenotransplantation among personnel in Spanish, Mexican, and Cuban hospitals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xenotransplantation is still a long way from becoming a clinical reality. However, in an emergency situation, it could be used as a bridge for replacing vital organs until the arrival of a human organ. To analyze the attitude toward xenotransplantation among hospital personnel from several hospitals in Spain and Latin America.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample stratified according to the type of hospital and job category (n = 2618) in 10 hospitals in three different countries: Spain (n = 821), Mexico (n = 1595), and Cuba (n = 202). A validated questionnaire (PCID-XenoTx Rios) was self-administered and completed anonymously by the respondents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  If the results of xenotransplantation were similar to those achieved using human donor organs, 61% (n = 1591) of the respondents would be in favor, while 9% (n = 234) would be against and 30% (n = 793) would be unsure. The analysis of the variables affecting attitude toward xenotransplantation revealed that attitude varied according to the country of reference and was more favorable among personnel in Cuban hospitals (70% a favor) than in Spanish (57%) and Mexican ones (62%; P = 0.000). However, these differences are mainly determined by job category with the physicians having the most favorable attitude. The ancillary staff, in contrast, had the least favorable attitude (76 vs. 51% respectively; P = 0.000). Of the remaining variables, attitude is significantly related to variables connected to human donation: attitude toward the different kinds of human organ donation (deceased [P < 0.001] and living [P < 0.001]), the possibility of needing a transplant oneself in the future (P < 0.001), and attitude toward donating the organs of a deceased family member (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A third of healthcare personnel from several hospitals are not in favor of xenotransplantation. It is necessary to provide more information about the matter, especially in hospitals where there is a preclinical xenotransplantation program or where there is access to one, such as in the hospitals in this study.
authors: "International Collaborative Donor Project", Murcia, Spain; Regional Transplant Center, Consejería de Sanidad y Consumo de la Región de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Transplant Unit, Surgery Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB), Murcia, Spain; Department of Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Ríos
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Martínez-Alarcón
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: López-Navas
authors: Marcos
authors: M
authors: Ayala-García
authors: Ma José
authors: MJ
authors: Sebastián
authors: Anselmo
authors: A
authors: Abdo-Cuza
authors: Ector Jaime
authors: EJ
authors: Ramírez
authors: Gerardo
authors: G
authors: Muñoz
authors: Gerardo
authors: G
authors: Palacios
authors: Juliette
authors: J
authors: Suárez-López
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Castellanos
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: González
authors: Miguel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Martínez
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Díaz
authors: Adrián
authors: A
authors: Nieto
authors: Gillermo
authors: G
authors: Ramis
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Ramírez
authors: Pascual
authors: P
authors: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001290:Attitude; D003462:Cuba; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitude; hospital personnel; organ donation; transplant-related services; xenotransplantation