A study of factors influencing decisions on organ donation among patient attendees in a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Introduction: Organ transplantation is the most preferred treatment modality for end-stage organ disease and organ failures as it improves the quality of life. Patients deemed fit for transplantation by the transplant team often wait expectantly for a donor organ. Each year thousands of individuals wait for organs to be donated for transplantation. There remains, therefore, a great need for increasing organ donation and harnessing of donor organs. Aims and Objectives: To determine knowledge, attitude, and practices of the general population for organ donation. To determine the factors which facilitate or inhibit general population from organ donation. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a total of 120 patient attendants attending outpatient department in the age group of 18–65 years at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. Results: One hundred and twenty participants were enrolled in the study, but only 119 participated. The mean age of males was 37.7 ± 14.7 years while that of females was 32.7 ± 11.5. Maximum awareness was found to be for kidney donation, least awareness for ear drums, and intestine donation. About 49.1% males and 51.6% females were aware of the legislation related to organ transplantation. The majority of female respondents (73.3%) showed their willingness to donate their organs in contrast to males only 16.7% were ready to donate in any situation. Females (60.7%) outnumbered males (45.8%) in their readiness to sign an organ donor card. About 73.3% females and 64.4% males were ready to participate in any promotion campaign related to organ donation. Conclusion: The magnitude of organ retrieval for the execution of a successful donor program is heavily dependent upon the level of knowledge and attitudes of the general public, so the need of hour is to increase the awareness among masses.