Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses of Intensive Care Units to Organ Transplantation with Brain Dead in the Hospitals Affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences(Tehran-2003)

Studies have indicated that brain dead is one of the most important factors of death in accidents. In our country more than 15000 brain dead occur in each year, about 10% of which are in donor group. The number of transplants is low compared to those in Europe and the United States. One of the most important causes of limitation in transplantation is a shortage of donor organs. Physicians and nurses of Intensive Care Units play an essential role in the process of organ donation in brain dead cases. The object of the present study was to determine attitudes towards organ donation in brain dead among physicians and nurses of Intensive Care Units in hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2003. In this cross-sectional study a total number of 84 (28 physicians and 54 nurses) were surveyed without sampling. Data which was collected via using a self-made questionnaire was then analysed by SPSS software, Chi square and T-tests. While 95% of physicians and nurses agreed with organ donation in brain dead, only 79% were interested in signing the donation consent. Reasons for agreement were: to save the life of recipient, to get reward in the judgement day, to cause life continuation in others and to cause happiness in organ recipients, respectively. Physicians and nurses of Intensive Care Units have an important role in the process of organ donation, therefore educational programmes are recommended to increase their knowledge, motivation and self-confidence in order to have more effective communication with relatives of patients with brain dead.