The Development and Validation of the Islamic Knowledge of Living Organ Donation Knowledge Scale for Measuring Organ Donation Knowledge Among Muslim Communities.

Abstract

Studies around the world demonstrate that Muslim attitudes toward organ donation are closely tied to religion, but also that Muslim publics suffer from a lack of detailed knowledge about the Islamic perspectives on organ donation. Consequently, organ donation professionals and stakeholders are increasingly addressing knowledge gaps in the Muslim community through educational interventions. Yet, a measurement of Islamic knowledge of organ donation, and thereby the efficacy of such education, is not available. To present the development and psychometric evaluation of the Islamic Knowledge of Living Organ Donation scale, designed to measure knowledge of the Islamic ethicolegal stances, and their underlying rationale, regarding living organ donation. Items were developed based on a review of Islamic juridical perspectives on organ donation, addressed knowledge gaps pervading Muslim communities, and pilot tested. The scale was statistically validated and psychometrically analyzed with a sample of 158 mosque-going Muslims in the United States. The 9-item Islamic Knowledge of Living Organ Donation scale was found to be reliable (Cronbach α: 0.86), unidimensional, independent of religiosity, and predictive of social attitudes toward organ donation. The survey can be used to validly assess Islamic knowledge of living organ donation among Muslim communities in research, educational, and clinical settings.