Abstract

BACKGROUND: In recent years, transplantation, a specific area of medicine, has achieved more and more support and acceptance among different nations around the world. However, there are still many ethical, moral, and legal barriers related to this form of treatment of end-stage organ failures. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and opinions of rural residents about organ transplantation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research method is a diagnostic survey of 395 rural residents of selected villages of the region of Podlasie, located in north-east Poland. The research tool used to carry out the study was the authors’ questionnaire.

RESULTS: Organs procurement and transplantation from deceased donors are accepted by 72.6% of respondents. About 60% of the respondents would agree to organ donation for transplantation from the members of their family after death and 65.3% of the residents would be donors after their death. Half of the respondents (55.9%) believe that the final decision as to the donation of organs from a deceased person should be taken by the family. A positive attitude towards organ transplantation was expressed by 67.6% of respondents.

CONCLUSIONS: Inhabitants of rural areas mostly agree with procurement of organs from the deceased and also from living donors. However, the enthusiasm and goodwill associated with the transplantation of organs after death diminished when the problem affects members of the family. Positive attitude about transplantation is related to age and level of the education.

Keywords: Education, Organ Transplantation, Rural Population, Tissue Donors