Are personnel in transplant hospitals in favor of cadaveric organ donation? Multivariate attitudinal study in a hospital with a solid organ transplant program Rı´os A, Ramı´rez P, Martı´nez L, Montoya MJ, Lucas D, Alcaraz J, Rodrı´guez MM, Rodrı´guez JM, Parrilla P. Are personnel in transplant hospitals in favor of cadaveric organ donation? Multivariate attitudinal study in a hospital with a solid organ transplant program. Clin Transplant 2006: 20: 743–754. ª Blackwell Munksgaard, 2006 Abstract: Introduction: A considerable number of professionals who work in a hospital could be against organ donation, which means that when the time comes, they could act as an obstacle to donation. The objective of this study was to analyze the attitude of hospital professionals toward organ donation and to determine the factors that influence this attitude in a Spanish center with a transplant program. Materials and methods: The study was carried out in a third-level Spanish hospital with a solid organ transplant program. A random sample was taken (n ¼ 1262) and stratified by job category and type of service. Attitude was evaluated using a validated questionnaire. Contact was made in each service with the person responsible for each of the job categories in order to distribute the survey. The survey was completed anonymously and was self- administered. Student’s t-test, the chi-squared test, and logistic regression analysis were applied in the statistical analysis. Results: The survey completion rate was 93% (n ¼ 1168). Most respond- ents were in favor of donation [69% (n ¼ 808)]. Of those who are not in favor, 29% (n ¼ 105) provide fear of apparent death as the reason whilst most do not give a reason (negative assertion; 57%; n ¼ 206). There are many factors related to this attitude toward donation, which are evident in the multivariate analysis: (i) job category, in which physicians are twice as likely to be in favor of donation than ancillary personnel (OR ¼ 2.02); (ii) a respondent’s knowledge of brain death (OR ¼ 1.64); (iii) having discussed the matter of organ donation and transplantation within the family (OR ¼ 1.89); (iv) a preference for other options apart from burial (OR ¼ 3.66); (v) being in favor of the performance of autopsy if it were necessary (OR ¼ 2.76); (vi) not being concerned about mutilation of the cadaver (OR ¼ 2); and (vii) having a partner with a favorable attitude toward donation (OR ¼ 2.2). Conclusions: Attitude toward cadaveric organ donation among personnel in a transplant hospital is similar to that described in the general public and is determined by many factors. The following factors are most noteworthy: (i) job category; (ii) knowledge of the concept of brain death; (iii) consid- eration of the matter of donation in the family; and (iv) fear of manipula- tion of the cadaver. In view of this attitude, which is similar to that of the general public, it is necessary to carry out promotion activities if we want to increase cadaveric donation rates. A. Rı ´os a,b , P. Ramı ´rez a,b , L. Martı ´nez b , M.J. Montoya c , D. Lucas d , J. Alcaraz e , M.M. Rodrı ´guez a , J.M. Rodrı ´guez b and P. Parrilla b a Coordinacio ´ n Regional de Trasplantes de la Comunidad Auto ´ noma de Murcia, Consejerı ´a de Sanidad, Murcia, b Departamento de Cirugı ´a, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Servicio Murciano de Salud, Murcia, c Servicio de Cirugı ´a, Hospital Rafael Me ´ ndez, Lorca, Murcia, d Coordinacio ´ n Hospitalaria, Hospital Reina Sofia, Murcia and e Servicio de Hematologı ´a, Hospital de San Carlos, Murcia, Espana Key words: attitude – brain death – hospital personnel – organ donation Corresponding author: Dr Antonio Rı ´os Zambu- dio, Avenida de la Libertad no 208, Casillas, 30007 Murcia, Espan ˜a. Tel.: 34 968 27 07 57; e-mail: arzrios@teleline.es Accepted for publication 30 June 2006 Clin Transplant 2006: 20: 743–754 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2006.00562.x Copyright ª Blackwell Munksgaard 2006 743