El personal médico ante la donación renal de vivo. Estudio de actitud en un hospital español con programa de trasplante de órganos sólidos

Abstract

Introduction In Spain, despite the high rates of cadaveric donation, living donation should be encouraged to reduce the transplant organ deficit. Therefore, one of the aspects that should be improved is the attitude of health professionals to living kidney donation in order to create a favorable climate. The aim of this study was to analyze attitudes to living kidney donation among physicians in a hospital with a living kidney transplant program and to identify the variables influencing these attitudes. Material and method Random sampling (n = 369) stratified by type of service was performed among physicians in the different hospital services. Attitudes were assessed using a questionnaire validated in our geographical area. Contact was made with the head of each service, who was informed of the project and made responsible for distributing the questionnaire in selected shifts. The questionnaire was completed anonymously and was self-administered. In the statistical analysis, the χ 2 test, Student's t-test and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results The questionnaire completion rate was 93% (n = 345). Twenty-three percent of respondents (n = 80) were in favor of living kidney donation, whether related or not, and this percentage rose to 90 % (n = 312) if donation was related. Of the remainder, 4 % (n = 14) were against living kidney donation and 6 % (n = 19) were undecided. These attitudes were related to only 2 factors: the respondent's belief that he or she might need a transplant in the future (p = 0.018) −95 % of those who believed that they might need a transplant were in favor–, and being prepared to accept a donated living kidney from a family member or friend, if necessary in the future (p = 0.000). Thus, 96 % of respondents who would be prepared to receive a donated organ were in favor of living donation. In the multivariate analysis, both the respondent's belief that he or she might need a transplant in the future (OR = 2.44) and, if this were the case, his or her willingness to receive a donated kidney (OR = 5.8) were related to a positive attitude to living donation. Conclusions Attitudes to living kidney donation among physicians in a hospital with a transplant program are highly favorable. Consequently, these health professionals could be a key element for the promotion of living donation at the present time when this form of donation is being encouraged by Spanish health authorities.