title: Opinions and knowledge about organ donation and transplantation of residents of selected villages in Podlaskie Voivodeship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, transplantation, a specific area of medicine, has achieved more and more support and acceptance among different nations around the world. However, there are still many ethical, moral, and legal barriers related to this form of treatment of end-stage organ failures. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and opinions of rural residents about organ transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research method is a diagnostic survey of 395 rural residents of selected villages of the region of Podlasie, located in north-east Poland. The research tool used to carry out the study was the authors' questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Organs procurement and transplantation from deceased donors are accepted by 72.6% of respondents. About 60% of the respondents would agree to organ donation for transplantation from the members of their family after death and 65.3% of the residents would be donors after their death. Half of the respondents (55.9%) believe that the final decision as to the donation of organs from a deceased person should be taken by the family. A positive attitude towards organ transplantation was expressed by 67.6% of respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inhabitants of rural areas mostly agree with procurement of organs from the deceased and also from living donors. However, the enthusiasm and goodwill associated with the transplantation of organs after death diminished when the problem affects members of the family. Positive attitude about transplantation is related to age and level of the education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kobus
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popławska
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bachórzewska-Gajewska
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Nephrology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Małyszko
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Nephrology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Małyszko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D011044:Poland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D055815:Young Adult