Strategic insights into organ donation: perceptions, attitudes, and the impact of
disincentive removal in current and future medical professionals
#MMPMID41341451
Arizmendi-Villarreal MA
; Ugalde-Flores AC
; Sanchez-Maldonado J
; Flores-Mendoza AP
; Zapata-Chavira HA
; Muñoz-Maldonado GE
; Perez-Rodriguez E
; Reyna-Sepulveda FJ
Front Public Health
2025[]; 13
(?): 1691544
PMID41341451
show ga
INTRODUCTION: Organ transplantation is a life-saving intervention for patients
with end-stage organ failure, yet donation rates remain critically low in many
countries. A better understanding of the medical community's perceptions and the
barriers to donation, especially disincentives for donation, is crucial for
improving organ procurement. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional,
observational study using a 22-item structured survey to assess knowledge,
attitudes, and disincentives to organ and tissue donation among 686 participants,
including medical students, residents, and healthcare personnel from the
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. RESULTS: Most of the participants (81.6%)
were willing to donate organs posthumously, and 72.3% expressed willingness to
donate during life. However, 54.4% were unaware that the family had the final
decision regarding donation. Common disincentives for living donation included
concerns about long-term health impacts (23.9%), risk of chronic kidney disease
(21%), and fear of death during nephrectomy (19.5%). Notably, 92% believed living
donors should receive social or economic support, without perceiving this as
conflicting with altruism. Male sex (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.36-3.10) and lack of
prior education on donation (OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.68-3.84) were significantly
associated with unwillingness to donate (p ? 0.001). DISCUSSION: Although
attitudes toward organ donation are generally favorable among future healthcare
professionals, significant knowledge gaps and systemic barriers persist.
Implementing structured educational programs, trust-building measures, and
policies that remove financial disincentives could strengthen Mexico's culture of
donation and improve transplant outcomes.
|*Attitude of Health Personnel
[MESH]
|*Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
[MESH]
|*Health Personnel/psychology/statistics & numerical data
[MESH]
|*Tissue and Organ Procurement/statistics & numerical data
[MESH]
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