KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS OF RELIGIOUS WORKERS IN ERZINCAN PROVINCE ON ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION

Authors : Sema Turan

Pages : 1086-1094

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Publication Date : 2023-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Abstract Aims: To examine the level of knowledge of religious workers about organ and tissue donation and analyze their attitudes and behaviors on the issue. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in the Erzincan province of Turkey with religious workers (279 people) working in the province center. The research was conducted in June 2022. The data were collected using the questionnaire prepared by the researcher. Results: Of the religious workers included in the study, 30.8% considered their knowledge about organ donation sufficient, 64.5% thought that organ donation is religiously appropriate, and 33.3% stated that they did not advise the public about organ donation. Only 1.4% of them had donated their organs and 25.8% were considering organ donation in the future. Of the participants, 32.6% stated that they would donate the organs of a relative in the event of their brain death if they had the right to make the decision, and 60.2% stated that they would donate organs to a relative. Religious workers who were over the age of 40, who had sufficient knowledge about organ donation, and who knew about the fatwa on organ donation significantly more commonly thought that organ donation is religiously appropriate (P ˂ 0.05). Participants who thought that organ donation is appropriate for followers of Islam and who had relatives waiting for organ transplantation were significantly more likely to consider organ donation in the future (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that the religious workers had low knowledge and training on organ donation. Although the majority of the religious workers thought that organ donation is religiously appropriate, knew about the fatwa of the Presidency of Religious Affairs on the subject, and thought that organ donation is necessary for humanity, both their rates of organ donation and wanting to donate organs in the future were low.
Keywords : Organ bağışı, din görevlileri, tutum