Knowledge, attitude and practice towards organ donation and its influencing factors among the relatives of intensive Care patients in a tertiary care hospital at Ahmedabad city

Introduction: Organ donation provides a lifesaving opportunity to individuals with organ failure. A significant number of deaths due to organ failure can be prevented by timely donation and transplantation of organs. The objective was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice among relatives of the admitted Intensive care unit (ICU) patients toward organ donation. Additionally, to determine factors influencing impending organ donation. Methods: A Cross sectional study on 150 first degree relatives of the admitted ICU patients above 18 years of age visiting GCS Medical College (spouse, son, daughter, father, mother) was conducted. The sample size was calculated using Open Epi. Data was collected through a pretested & predesigned questionnaire including information like demography, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding organ donation. Results: Out of total 150 participants, there were 54% male. Mean age of participants was 39.1 ± 12.6 years. Only 8% of the participants had good knowledge regarding organ donation. Approximately 6.7% of the participants had signed up for organ donation. Approximately 73.3% of the participants agreed to donate organ if experienced brain dead while only 49.3% participants agreed to donate their family member’s organs. According to participants, the most common reasons for not accepting organ donations were lack of awareness (59.3%) followed by cultural belief (26.6%). Only 2.6% participants or their family members had donated any organ in last 5 years. Conclusion: Very few participants had knowledge regarding organ donation and the majority have not signed up for organ donation due to fears and misconception.