TO STUDY AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE ABOUT EYE DONATION AMONG PARAMEDICAL WORKERS

Aims: To study awareness and willingness for eye donation among paramedical workers.Materials and Methods: 64 paramedical workers were asked to answer questionnaire in their own language. Questions were asked regarding assessment of knowledge,awareness and willingness for eye donation.Results: Study revealed 75% awareness rate for eye donation after death and 64% responders knew that the ideal time for eye donation was within 6 hours of death. Reasons for not pledging eye donation included unacceptable idea of separating eyes causing disfigurement of face (18/64), lack of awareness about eye bank (18/64) and religious restrictions (11/64). However other aspects assessed had much lower awareness rates; ideal part transplanted (52%),Age limiting not restricting donation (67%),confidentiality of donor and recipient (54%),hospital having facility of eye bank (63%).48% of respondents were willing to pledge for eye donation.Conclusion: Paramedical staffs of any hospital are backbone of health care system and can play major role in motivating patients. Our study concluded that even though 75% of staff had knowledge,17% believed it to be against religious beliefs and 28% believed it causes disfigurement of face. These beliefs are major hurdle towards patient motivation for eye donation and efforts are required to ensure that knowledge is imparted to health care workers.