Knowledge Does Not Correlate with Behavior toward Deceased Organ Donation: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

BACKGROUND: Although knowledge is an important factor that influences decisions regarding deceased organ donation, the associations of knowledge with attitude and behavior regarding organ donation remain uncertain in countries with low organ donation rates like Japan. MATERIAL/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of hospital medical and non-medical staff in 15 Japanese medical facilities. The questionnaire included items on knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward deceased organ donation and transplantation. Participants were divided into 3 groups according to the tertile of knowledge score. Modified Poisson regression models were used for associations of knowledge score with organ donor registration and willingness to become an organ donor after death. RESULTS: Of the 1967 staff, 1275 returned the questionnaires (response rate, 64.8%). There were 1190 study subjects with complete data for analysis. For the lowest (n=512), middle (n=428), and highest (n=250) tertile knowledge groups, the proportions of participants who registered and expressed willingness to donate organs were 20.1%, 23.4%, and 28.4% and 31.1%, 38.3%, and 44.0%, respectively. The adjusted proportion ratios for organ donor registration were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.73–1.10) for the middle and 1.00 (0.80–1.26) for the highest tertile of knowledge, compared with the lowest tertile. However, participants with the highest tertile of knowledge score expressed higher willingness for organ donation than the lowest tertile (adjusted proportion ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.13–1.66). CONCLUSIONS: For hospital staff in Japanese medical facilities, high knowledge about organ donation and transplantation was not associated with donor registration, but was associated with willingness to become an organ donor.