Abstract
Background
Organ transplantation is recognized as a life-saving procedure for patients with potentially terminal illnesses. However, the population's awareness of organ donation and related issues is variable throughout the world.
Objectives
The study purposes to evaluate the knowledge and attitude toward organ donation among the adult population in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study on the general population in Jazan using the convenient sampling method. The questionnaire was composed of 21 items distributed over demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude domains. The knowledge and attitude domain levels were categorized into low, moderate, and high based on the scoring of its items. The data had been analyzed using SPSS software version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Frequency and percentages were used to display categorical variables. Mean and standard deviation was used to present numerical variables. The independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were both used to test for factors associated with knowledge score and attitude score toward organ donation.
Results
A total of 1019 participants were included in the study. The majority were between the ages of 18 and 30 years and 3.4% of them were older than 50 years. Eighty percent of participants had a university level of education or higher and 48% were students. This survey showed that 493 (48.4%) had a moderate knowledge level of organ donation (total score between 50% and 75%) with younger age, being a student, and residence status associated with a higher level of knowledge while gender and the education levels were not. Five hundred one (49.2%) of the participants reported being in agreement with organ donation and 56 (5.5%) of them reported disagreement. Most of the participants exhibited a low positive attitude toward organ donation, with 592 (58.1%) of the participants (a total score less than 50%) (score of 4 and less). Young age and being a student were the factors associated with a positive attitude while gender, education levels, residence status, and monthly status were having no significant associations with the positive attitude toward organ donation.
Conclusion
This study concluded that study participants had a moderate level of knowledge and a low positive attitude toward organ donation. The advocacy in promoting organ donation should be increased through the use of appropriate mediums to change the attitudes and enhance the willingness of people.