Barriers and Enablers to Joining the National Organ Donation Registry Among Patient Population at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Peshawar, Pakistan

Background Organ transplantation is a life-saving therapy for patients with end-stage organ failure. However, the demand for organs far exceeds their availability, leading to longer waiting times and increased mortality rates. Pakistan faces a similar situation, with a shortage of organ donors and several barriers to therapeutic organ donation, including cultural, religious, and political ones. Objective The objective of this study was to understand the barriers and enablers to joining the national organ donation registry among patient populations at a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. The findings can then guide targeted educational campaigns to improve the state of therapeutic organ transplants in the country. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Outpatient Departments of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, targeting all patients and visitors aged 18 to 60 who presented to the outpatient departments of the hospital. A modified and validated questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: The study analyzed the attitudes of 342 individuals, among which 82.18% had not heard about Pakistan's Organ Donation Registry, 58.09% agreed with organ donation, and 23.68% suggested they would like to join the registry someday. Religious beliefs and the lack of knowledge about the laws related to organ donation stood out as statistically significant barriers to joining the national organ donation registry of Pakistan (p<0.05). The study also found that the willingness to donate was significantly higher among those who themselves encouraged organ donation and were willing to do so if the country's system were to support it (p<0.05). Conclusion The majority of participants had not heard of the organ donation registry, and a lack of knowledge about the legal framework and religious beliefs were significant barriers to joining the registry. This is hindering the growth of therapeutic organ transplantation in Pakistan. In addition, the willingness to donate was higher among those who supported organ donation and believed in its benefits. Increasing awareness and promoting a culture of organ donation in Pakistan can help address the shortage of organ donors and improve the state of therapeutic organ transplantation in the country.