Korean J Transplant.  2022 Nov;36(Supple 1):S257. 10.4285/ATW2022.F-4026.

Deceased organ transplantation: knowledge, awareness, and attitude among health care professionals in Bangladesh

• Rashid M
• Bari A
• Nobi F
• Salma Begum NA
• Zaman Arefin MSU
• Nomani S
• Sayed A
• Rashid HU
• Ahn C

• KMID: 2535474
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2022.F-4026

Abstract

Background
Asia has greatest growth rate for number of chronic diseases and end-stage organ failure, but has the lowest rate of organ transplant, particularly deceased donor. This survey was conducted to assess knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding deceased organ-tissue donation among health care professionals (HCP) in Bangladesh.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional observational study, done in six tertiary hospitals of Dhaka from January to June 2022. A questionnaire constructed by the Asian Society of Transplantation was used for data collection. Statistical analysis was per-formed by SAS software.
Results
A total of 446 HCP participated. There were nurses (42.0%), medical students (29.0%), doctors (21.0%), and others (8.0%). The mean age of participants was 28 years; 44.0% were male participants and 56.0% were female. About 92.6% participants heard about organ-tissue donation, but majority (75.2%) never participated in educational programs and only 8.3% knew it well. About 72.3% HCP showed positive attitude towards organ-tissue donation. Nonetheless, 24.0% strongly wished to donate and only 0.9% registered as donor. The main reason for not willing to donate were never thought about it (29.0%) and lack of informa-tion (27.0%). The principle cause of not registering was not knowing the procedure (34.4%). Majority advised outdoor campaigns, educational activities, and TV commercials as necessary sources for activating brain death donation. However, most reliable source for information chosen was TV (53.7%), Internet, and newspaper. Majority felt that when promoting life-sharing, the es-sential message that should be delivered is giving new lives to patients. About 85.0% participants knew the difference between brainstem death and vegetative state, 75.0% considered brain death as death and 46.4% assumed one brain death donor can save five persons lives.
Conclusions
There was lack of knowledge, awareness, and attitude about deceased organ-tissue donation among HCP in Ban-gladesh. More educational program is needed to improve deceased organ transplantation.