Does Knowledge of the Concept of Brain Death Affect the Attitude Toward Donation of Algerians Residing in Spain?

Abstract

Introduction: Algeria is an important source of immigrants to Europe. A population with a low culture of donation and transplantation and little knowledge of related concepts such as brain death (BD).

Objective: Analyze the knowledge and acceptance of the BD concept of the population born in Algeria and residing in Spain.

Material and methods: Population under study. Population born in Algeria and resident in Spain.

Inclusion criteria: Sample of population over 15 years stratified by age and sex.

Instrument: Attitude validated questionnaire for organ donation for transplant PCID-DTO-Ríos. Field work. Random selection of people to be surveyed according to stratification.

Results: A total of 441 respondents have been included in the study; of these, 27.2% know the concept of BD and accept it as a person's death. Of the rest, 18% do not know or have doubts about the concept, and 54% have a misconception or do not accept it as the death of a person. Those who know the concept of BD have a more favorable attitude toward donation (P = .001). When making the correlation to see which psychosocial factors are related to the knowledge of the concept of brain death, it is obtained that those respondents who have spoken with family about organ transplantation have a better knowledge of it (P < .001).

Conclusions: The Algerian population immigrating to Spain has little knowledge of the BD concept, which has a direct relationship to their attitude toward organ donation. The family-level approach to the donation and transplant process sensitizes and improves the knowledge of this concept.