Knowledge, Attitudes, Willingness, and Associated Factors to Organ Donation Among Intensive Care Unit Health Care Workers: Findings of a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The lack of donor organs is a major barrier to the advancement of organ transplantation. This study aimed to understand the current status of knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to donate organs among intensive care unit (ICU) health care workers and analyzed the influencing factors to provide a scientific basis for improving the situation of a serious imbalance between the ratio of organ supply and demand. From November 2021 to March 2022, 160 ICU health care workers from 3 level 3A hospitals in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China were chosen as subjects by the cluster sampling method. A cross-sectional study of the participants was carried out using a general information questionnaire, Organ Donation Knowledge Scale, Organ Donation Attitude Scale, and Organ Donation Willingness Scale. The determinants of ICU health care workers' knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward organ donation were examined using multiple linear regression analysis. A total of 150 ICU health care workers completed the survey within the prescribed time, and the recovery rate of this questionnaire was 93.75%. The score on the Organ Donation Knowledge Scale was 7 (5, 7) points, and the full score was 10 points. The score on the Organ Donation Attitude Scale was (3.87 ± 0.93), and the full score was 7. The Organ Donation Willingness Scale score was 2 (2, 3) out of 5. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that several factors significantly influenced the score of organ donation knowledge. These factors were identified as the professional title and persuasive experience related to organ donation. Additionally, the score of organ donation attitude was found to be influenced primarily by the persuasive experience of organ donation. Furthermore, the score of organ donation willingness was influenced by 3 main factors: marital status, professional title, and persuasive experience in the context of organ donation. Although the level of ICU health care workers' knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation was above the median level, they still needed to be improved. The current status of ICU health care workers' desire to donate organs is not optimistic; thus, relevant departments should take specific actions to improve the situation.