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. 2021 Oct 28;10(21):5031.
doi: 10.3390/jcm10215031.

Knowledge and Attitudes toward Cornea Donation among Different Social Groups in Poland

Dominika Szkodny  1   2 , Ewa Wróblewska-Czajka  1   2 , Edward Wylęgała  1   2
Affiliations

Knowledge and Attitudes toward Cornea Donation among Different Social Groups in Poland

Dominika Szkodny et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: Limited access to corneal tissue for transplantation remains a challenge in many parts of the world. To date, little attention has been paid to the problem of the cornea donor shortage in Poland, where the number of waiting patients exceeds the number of transplants performed three-fold. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and willingness towards participating in corneal donation among different social groups in Poland.

Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among health professionals, medical students, clerics, teachers, journalists, employees and patients of the District Railway Hospital in Katowice. Online and paper questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic data and information regarding awareness of, knowledge about and attitudes toward corneal donation. For health professionals and medical students, the questionnaires contained additional questions concerning knowledge and solutions for expanding the donor pool. Descriptive analysis and associations were evaluated using the chi2 test.

Results: In the survey, 1026 participants took part, including 370 (36.06%, group 1) health professionals and 656 (63.94%, group 2) participants from a non-medical field. A total of 330 (89.18%) from group 1 and 528 (80.49%) respondents from group 2 expressed willingness to donate their corneas. The main reason for refusal of donation in both groups was a lack of knowledge concerning eye donation (7.8%). A social campaign (64.6%) was the most frequently chosen solution for increasing the number of potential donors by health professionals and medical students. In the group of doctors, not knowing how to report a potential donor was chosen as the greatest source of difficulty in donor reporting (40%).

Conclusions: In the present study, the willingness to donate one's eyes was substantial in both groups. Social campaigns and improving knowledge concerning the donor reporting process among health professionals might be beneficial in expanding the donor pool.

Keywords: awareness; corneal transplant; donation; tissue procurement.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The source of knowledge regarding corneal transplants in the first group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The most effective solutions for improving the situation in Poland.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The source of knowledge regarding corneal transplants in the second group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The form of consent being in force in Poland.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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