Knowledge, Attitude and Its Associated Factors Towards Organ Donation Among General Public in Kelantan: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Organ transplantation is crucial for end-stage organ failure treatment, but there’s a growing discrepancy in donor supply, necessitating an understanding of public knowledge and attitudes to increase willingness. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and associated factors towards organ donation among the general public in Kelantan, Malaysia. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 162 public in Kubang Kerian, a new economic hub in Kelantan, Malaysia, selected through convenience sampling. Participants’ knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation were assessed using a self-administered question, with seven items measuring knowledge and eleven measuring attitudes. Descriptive statistics, an independent t-test or one-way analysis of variance test and a Spearman correlation test were used. Results: 56.8% have low knowledge of organ donation. However, their attitude towards organ donation was positive. Good knowledge was significantly associated with age and education (p≤0.05). Ethnicity, marital status, employment status and monthly household income were significantly associated with attitudes (p≤0.05). The aggregate score value of the items about knowledge and attitude showed a fair correlation (r=0.336, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study concluded that while participants had limited knowledge about organ donation, their attitudes towards it were positively influenced by factors such as age, education, ethnicity, marital status, employment status, and monthly household income. Community-based education campaigns, policymakers’ and religious leaders’ involvement are crucial in promoting public awareness about organ donation in life-saving treatments.