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Organ Donation Attitudes Among Individuals With Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease.

Authors :: Loughery C
Andrews AM
Zhang N
Smith AH
Resnicow K
Chapman R
Riley HJ
Stav S
Yee J
Source :: Transplantation direct [Transplant Direct] 2018 Jul 25; Vol. 4 (8), pp. e378. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Jul 25 (Print Publication: 2018).
Publication Year :: 2018
Abstract: Background: The need for transplantable organs drastically outweighs the supply. Misconceptions are a barrier to increasing the rate of donor registration. Individuals with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) may incorrectly believe they are unable to be donors; however, their attitudes have not been studied. This study aims to explore beliefs of individuals with stage 5 CKD about their ability to donate and test the validity of an organ donation scale.<br />Methods: We examined the psychometric properties of a new 25-item organ donation scale among 554 patients with stage 5 CKD at 12 dialysis units in southeast Michigan. Patients completed surveys during dialysis treatment with assistance from a program coordinator or social worker.<br />Results: Two subscales with good psychometric properties were identified: general benefits (α = 0.86) and general barriers (α = 0.80). For both subscales, more positive attitudes were associated with higher intent to sign up on the donor registry, suggesting validity of the scale.<br />Conclusions: Patients who were older than 60 years, white, or of higher education status reported more positive attitudes. Misconceptions about the ability of patients with stage 5 CKD to donate are common and highlight a need for education about donor eligibility. Individuals with stage 5 CKD may be able to donate organs and tissues.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.