Knowledge and attitude towards eye donation among health professionals of northern India.

Abstract

We aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of health professionals towards eye donation at an apex tertiary care centre of northern India. We interviewed 600 health professionals, comprising doctors, nurses, medical as well as nursing students, social workers and allied paramedical staff. A structured questionnaire (12 questions for assessing knowledge and 5 questions for assessing attitude) was used to estimate the awareness of eye donation and willingness to pledge eyes for donation. The responses pertaining to knowledge were graded as 'excellent', 'good' and 'poor' and those pertaining to attitude were grouped into 'positive' and 'negative'. Of the 600 participants, 138 participants (23%) had 'excellent' knowledge and 234 participants (39%) had 'good' knowledge about eye donation. Awareness of eye donation was positively related to the level of literacy (odds ratio [OR] 8.5 [2.30-31.2]; p<0.001). Medical social workers and health supervisors had better knowledge about eye donation (OR 2.01 [1.08-3.72]; p=0.026) than other professional groups. Knowledge of eye donation had no significant association with age, gender, religion, family type and marital status of the respondent. Willingness to pledge eyes for donation was observed in only 6% of the participating health professionals. Pledging of eyes for donation was higher among older participants (OR 7.8 [2.67-22.77]; p<0.001). Our study shows that there is sufficient knowledge about eye donation, but an alarmingly low willingness to pledge eyes for donation among health professionals. Concerted efforts are required to alter their attitude to strengthen the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme.