title: Evaluation of the Motivation to Consent to and to Refuse Organ Donation Among Participants of Educational Meetings Concerning Organ Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improvement of the consent rate for solid organ donation from deceased donors is a key component of strategies applied in many countries aiming to increase the availability of organs for transplantation. Attitudes toward living and posthumous donation are favorable. Research shows that the outlook on organ donation and the degree of the willingness to become an organ donor are associated with a wide range of variables. The main objective of this study was to identify factors that influence the willingness to donate organs and the reasons for refusing consent.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 191 participants (135 female and 56 male) aged 16 to 61 years (mean age 26.86 ± 12.88). A cross-sectional study was conducted during educational meetings concerning organ donation that was addressed to students, teachers, and nurses. Survey tools included the Individual Questionnaire: Study of attitudes toward transplantation, consisting of 26 closed questions (with the consent of the Statistical Office in Krakow).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 97.4% of the respondents accepted transplantation from living donors, and 95.8% accepted deceased donations. Of the respondents, 78.5% agreed to posthumous life-saving organ donation. There was a significant difference between the respondents' sex, age, social group, place of living, and the reasons for their willingness to donate organs both posthumously and during their lifetime, as well as reasons for refusal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that the study group in general had favorable views on treatment involving transplantation and declared willingness to make a posthumous organ donation. These views vary depending on demographic variables. The education on the subject of organ and tissue donation has a positive impact on donation and transplantation rates.
authors: Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology Department, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland; Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Health, State Higher Vocational School, Nowy Sacz, Poland. Electronic address: imilan@szpitaljp2.krakow.pl.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Milaniak
authors: Faculty of Psychology and Humanities, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Krakow, Poland.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Wilczek-Rużyczka
authors: Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology Department, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland; Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Wierzbicki
authors: Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology Department, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland; Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sadowski
authors: Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology Department, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland; Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Kapelak
authors: Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology Department, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland; First Chair of General Surgery, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krakow, Poland; Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Przybyłowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009726:Nurses; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D011044:Poland; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D055815:Young Adult