title: Evaluation of an educational, theater-based intervention on attitudes toward organ donation in Risaralda, Colombia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The shortage of organs for transplantation is a worldwide problem and the main cause is the refusal of family members to donate. Consent to donate is influenced by many factors and educational interventions are strongly recommended.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of an educational, theaterbased strategy on the attitudes toward organ donation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study employed an intervention using theater as the central tool. The impact of this intervention on the intention to donate was assessed through a controlled, prospective, nonrandomized designed study. The sample consisted of 1,038 people. All the participants answered a survey that asked about sex, age and intent to donate. Afterward, one portion of the sample was exposed to the play, The Gift of Life, and a subsequent discussion forum that was guided by experts. The same survey was administered again after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the intervention, donation attitudes were positive in 68.3% of the responses, negative in 6.8% and uncertain in 24.9%. Females showed a greater intent to donate while age had no apparent influence on the donation decision. Those exposed to the intervention were found to be more likely to donate and show a favorable change in attitude toward donation than those who were not exposed to the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An educational intervention using theater is an effective tool to generate a short-term change in the intent to donate. Educational strategies should be employed to increase the rates of organ donation.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia, E-mails: jcsanchez@utp.edu.co ; Organization for Organ Procurement, (O. P. O.) Colombia Vive, Pereira, Colombia, E-mail: tatagomez27@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buitrago
authors.affiliation: Organization for Organ Procurement, (O. P. O.) Colombia Vive, Pereira, Colombia, E-mail: tatagomez27@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia, E-mails: jcsanchez@utp.edu.co ; Organization for Organ Procurement, (O. P. O.) Colombia Vive, Pereira, Colombia, E-mail: tatagomez27@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia, E-mails: jcsanchez@utp.edu.co.
authors.forename: Leidy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucumí
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia, E-mails: jcsanchez@utp.edu.co.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia, E-mails: jcsanchez@utp.edu.co.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez
keywords: Education; drama; healtcare acceptability; organ donations; organ transplantation; tissue and organ procurement