Turkish validity and reliability of Organ Donation Attitude Scale

Abstract

To report the translation and adaptation process from English to Turkish and the psychometric estimates of the validity and reliability of The Organ Donation Attitude Scale Turkish. Its aim (1) is to provide data about and (2) to assess Turkish people's attitudes and volunteerism towards organ donation. Lack of donors is a significant problem for organ transplantation worldwide. Attitudes about organ donation and volunteerism are important factors in the lack of donors. To collect survey data from Turkish participants, a cross-sectional design was used: the classical measurement method. The Organ Donation Attitude Scale was translated from English to Turkish and back-translated into English. The analysis included a total of 892 Turkish participants. The validity of the scale was confirmed by exploratory factor analysis and criterion-relation validity testing. A test-retest procedure was implemented for the reliability of the scale over time. The Organ Donation Attitude Scale consists of three relatively independent components: humanity and moral conviction, fears of medical neglect and fears of bodily mutilation. Internal consistency of these three components resulted in acceptable Cronbach's α levels. Positive correlation occurred between the volunteerism score and positive attitude about organ donation. The correlation between volunteerism score and negative attitude about organ donation was negative. Fears of bodily mutilation were most significantly related to unwillingness to commit to organ donation. The test-retest correlation coefficients proves that the Organ Donation Attitude Scale were reliable over time. The Organ Donation Attitude Scale Turkish version is both a reliable and valid instrument that can be useful in measuring positive and negative attitudes of Turkish people about organ donation. With the Organ Donation Attitude Scale, researchers in Turkey will be able to ascertain important data on volunteerism and attitudes towards organ donation. Thus, positive attitudes towards cadaver organ donations will be able to encourage organ donation in Turkey.