Elsevier

Transplantation Proceedings

Volume 42, Issue 8, October 2010, Pages 3102-3105
Transplantation Proceedings

Organ donation
Attitude Toward Living Liver Donation in Transplant Hospitals in Spain, Mexico and Cuba

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2010.05.074Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

Transplantation hospitals have played a key role in developing deceased organ donation and transplantation (ODT). To reduce the number of deaths on the transplant waiting list, it is essential to encourage living liver donation (LLD). Involvement of personnel in these hospitals is crucial.

Purpose

We analyzed the attitudes toward LLD among hospital personnel in Spain, Mexico, and Cuba.

Materials and methods

Data were obtained from 5 transplant hospitals in Spain, Mexico, and Cuba. The sample was stratified according to job category and type of service (n = 2273). A validated questionnaire about living donation was used as the instrument.

Results

Most respondents (82%) were in favor of related LLD. If the LLD was not related, acceptance fell to 21%. A total of 85% of physicians, 79% of nursing personnel, 74% of nursing assistants, and 83% of auxiliary staff were in favor (p < .001). A favorable attitude toward LLD was associated (P < .05) with age (37 ± 10 y vs 39 ± 10 y), a favorable attitude toward deceased donation, a belief that a possible transplant is needed, acceptance of LLD if necessary, a favorable attitude toward living kidney donation, family discussion about ODT, a partner's favorable attitude toward ODT, an intention to participate in prosocial activities, being a Catholic, and a belief that one's religion is in favor of ODT.

Conclusions

Personnel from Spanish, Mexican, and Cuban transplantation hospitals have favorable attitudes toward LLD. This suggests that there may be an increase in LLD in the future, provided that there is the necessary sociopolitical and economic support.

Section snippets

Study Population

Data were obtained as part of the “Proyecto Donante Vivo, Murcia” international collaborative program of 5 transplantation hospitals, each having a liver program. The hospitals were in 3 countries: 1 in Spain (n = 1,168), 2 in Mexico (n = 903), and 2 in Cuba (n = 202). The random sample in these centers was stratified according to job category: physician, nursing personnel, nursing assistant, and auxiliary personnel. The total number of respondents was 2,273.

Opinion Survey and Study Variables

A validated survey previously used

Attitudes Toward Living Liver Donation

Most hospital personnel (82%; n = 1,861) surveyed were in favor of related LLD, although only 21% (n = 478) were in favor if it was unrelated. Only 10% (n = 226) were against related LLD, and 8% undecided (n = 186).

Bivariate Analysis of the Factors Affecting Attitudes

In the analysis of variables affecting LLD the following important significant associations were observed:

  • 1)

    Demographic variables: Although attitudes toward LLD were somewhat more favorable among hospital personnel from Cuban (86%; n = 174) than Mexican (83%; n = 751) or Spanish (80%;

Discussion

Living liver transplantation is an alternative therapy to deceased liver transplantation, although some controversy still exists, mainly because of the risks involved in the donor surgery and the inferior results compared with deceased donation.1, 10, 11 Consequently, although most countries have LLD programs, they are insufficient with only a few LLDs.

In Spain, this type of donation is currently minimal. Population studies in Spain have shown that the general public have a favorable attitude

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