Knowledge of the Concept of Brain Death in the British and Irish
Population Resident in Southeast Spain
A. Ríos, L. Martínez-Alarcón, A. López-Navas, J. Sánchez, D. Guzmán, B. Febrero, G. Ramis,
P. Ramírez, and P. Parrilla
ABSTRACT
Introduction. The concept of brain death (BD) is not well understood among the general
public, rendering it one of the main psychosocial barriers to favorable attitudes toward
donation. Individuals from the British Isles are among the most important migratory
groups in southeastern Spain. We sought to analyze the level of understanding of the
concept of brain death among the British and Irish populations living in southeastern
Spain, and to determine factors affecting their attitudes.
Material and Method. A random sample of the British and Irish population resident in
Murcia was stratified according to nationality as part of the “International Collaborative
Donor Program” (n = 1611). The self-administered survey in English was completed
anonymously. For the statistical analysis, we used the
2
test and a logistical regression analysis.
Results. Approximately half of the respondents (45%; n = 692) understood the concept
of BD; they considered it to mean the death of an individual. Among of the other
respondents, 39% (n = 605) did not understand this concept, and the remaining 16% (n =
240) erroneously believed that it did not imply a person’s death. Respondents coming from
Great Britain showed a greater knowledge of the BD concept than did the Irish (46% vs
34%; P .001). Those who understood the concept of BD were more in favor of deceased
donation than those who had an erroneous understanding (49% vs 36%; P .001).
Significant associations were also noted among variables directly or indirectly related to
donation and transplantation (P .05).
Conclusion. The level of understanding of the concept of BD among the population from
the British Isles resident in southeastern Spain was limited. Taking into account that the BD
concept is a psychosocial factor that affects attitudes toward organ donation, information
campaigns should be applied to this emerging population group in southeastern Spain.
A
CCEPTANCE that the concept of brain death (BD)
means the death of a person has been among the key
points for the development of solid organ donation and
transplantation.
1–3
However, within the population, it is not
well understood or accepted that BD represents the death of
a person, becoming one of the main psychosocial barriers to
having a positive attitude toward organ donation.
4,5
In the
Spanish population, this aspect is well understood
6
; however,
it is not well known in emerging population groups in Spain. In
this respect, the population from the British Isles among of the
most important in southeastern Spain.
4
The objective of this
study was to analyze knowledge of the concept of BD among
the British and Irish population living in southeastern Spain
and to determine the factors affecting this attitude.
From the “International Collaborative Donor Project” (A.R.,
L.M.-A., A.L.-N., B.F., P.R.); the Regional Transplant Center
(A.R., L.M.-A., A.L.-N., B.F., P.R.), Consejería de Sanidad y
Consumo de la Región de Murcia; the Transplant Unit (A.R.,
L.M.-A., A.L.-N., B.F., P.R., P.P.), Hospital Universitario Virgen
de la Arrixaca; the Department of Surgery (A.R., P.P.), University
of Murcia; the Facultad de Veterinaria (G.R.), University of
Murcia; and the ADAER (J.S., D.G.), Association for Helping
Kidney Patients in the Murcia Region, Murcia, Spain.
Address reprint requests to Dr. Antonio Ríos Zambudio,
Avenida de la Libertad n° 208. Casillas. 30007. Murcia, Spain.
E-mail: ARZRIOS@teleline.es
0041-1345/11/$–see front matter © 2011 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2011.02.037 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710
692 Transplantation Proceedings, 43, 692– 694 (2011)