Knowledge and attitude among users of the Brazilian public health system regarding organ donation for transplants

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to identify the perception of a given group of users of the Brazilian Public Health System regarding organ donation and to implement an educational policy. Method: Structured interviews were conducted aiming to make a profile of donor and non-donor subjects, the importance of the organ donation and the knowledge regarding the donation and brain death. Results: One hundred subjects were interviewed: 33% of them considered themselves potential donors; 40% were donors; 13% were non-donors, and 14% were non-aware potential donors. However, only 40% of users have already officially expressed to their families a propension to donate. Regarding their knowledge on the appropriate moment for the organ donation, only 64% associated the act of donating with the brain death. Conclusion: Although in the present results it was revealed users of the Brazilian Public Health System prone to the organ donation, in fact, there was a high amount of refusals, and this may be due to the lack of information and knowledge regarding the donation-transplantation process.