Analysis of knowledge of the general population and health professionals on organ donation after cardiac death.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge and acceptance of the public and professionals working in intensive care units regarding organ donation after cardiac death.


METHODS
The three hospitals with the most brain death notifications in Curitiba were selected, and two groups of respondents were established for application of the same questionnaire: the general public (i.e., visitors of patients in intensive care units) and health professionals working in the same intensive care unit. The questionnaire contained questions concerning demographics, intention to donate organs and knowledge of current legislation regarding brain death and donation after cardiac death.


RESULTS
In total, 543 questionnaires were collected, including 442 from family members and 101 from health professionals. There was a predominance of women and Catholics in both groups. More females intended to donate. Health professionals performed better in the knowledge comparison. The intention to donate organs was significantly higher in the health professionals group (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in the intention to donate in terms of education level or income. There was a greater acceptance of donation after uncontrolled cardiac death among Catholics than among evangelicals (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the general population intended to donate, with greater intentions expressed by females. Education and income did not affect the decision. The type of transplant that used a donation after uncontrolled cardiac death was not well accepted in the study population, indicating the need for more clarification for its use in our setting.
Curso Acadêmico de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Ramon Correa
RC
Bedenko
Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Renato
R
Nisihara
Curso Acadêmico de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Douglas Shun
DS
Yokoi
Curso Acadêmico de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Vinícius de Mello
VM
Candido
Curso Acadêmico de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Ismael
I
Galina
Curso Acadêmico de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Rafael Massayuki
RM
Moriguchi
Curso Acadêmico de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Nico
N
Ceulemans
Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Positivo, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Paolo
P
Salvalaggio
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001926:Brain Death; D001938:Brazil; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult