Population of Cienfuegos (Cuba) and Their Knowledge About the Concept of Brain Death: Multivariate Analysis of the Associated Psychosocial Factors

Abstract

IntroductionThe favorable knowledge of the concept of brain death (BD) is a determinant for organ donation. ObjectiveTo analyze the level of knowledge of the concept of BD in the population of Cienfuegos (Cuba) and determine the factors that condition it. MethodsSample of Cubans residing in Cienfuegos (n = 636) stratified by age and sex. The assessment instrument is the validated questionnaire of attitude toward donation and transplant, “PCID-DTO-Ríos,” self-administered and anonymously filled out. Statisticsχ2, Student t test, and a logistic regression analysis. ResultsA total of 636 individuals completed the questionnaire. Fifty percent of participants understood the concept of BD and accept it as a person's death (n = 318). Of the rest, 13.4% (n = 85) did not understand it, and 36.6% (n = 233) had a misconception. The marital status (be married and / or with a partner) of the respondent is associated with the knowledge BD (P < .001) as are the following variables: level of education; offspring; having discussed the issue of donation and transplantation with the family; opinion of the couple toward donation and transplantation; religion; and favorable attitude toward the organ donation and transplant. In the multivariate analysis, the following are independent variables: 1. studies (odds ratio [OR] = 4.664; P = .002); 2. has no offspring (OR = 3.129; P < .001); 3. has commented on it in the family nucleus (OR = 2.759; P < .001); 4. despite having an opinion against (OR = 16.999; P < .001); 5. religion (OR = 1.878; P = .042); and 6. favorable attitude toward the donation of cadaver organs (OR = 2.026; P = .011). ConclusionsHalf of the population of Cienfuegos knows and accepts the concept of BD as the death of an individual, associating said acceptance with a favorable attitude toward organ donation.