Intensive Care Unit Nurses' Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Organ Donation: A National Survey in the Republic of Ireland

BACKGROUND: Organ transplantation is often the only treatment for end-stage organ failure. Treatment, however, is either delayed or restricted due to a shortage of donors. To address the shortage of donors in the Republic of Ireland, the government introduced new national legislation for organ donation. AIM: To determine practicing ICU nurses' knowledge, confidence, beliefs and attitudes towards organ donation and the organ donation process. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey research design was used. Data were collected using an online anonymous questionnaire. Participation was voluntary for all ICU nurses who fulfilled the inclusion criteria (n = 500), across four ICUs in large teaching hospitals across the Republic of Ireland. Ethical approval was granted for each site. Data were analysed using SPSS ver27 software. RESULTS: The response rate was 36% (n = 181). All nurses were in support of organ donation and 85% reported they would become organ donors. Nurses' beliefs and attitudes towards organ donation were positively correlated with country of training, role in ICU, further education in critical care and greater experience with organ donation. Nurses were least confident in speaking to family about organ donation and their knowledge of recent changes to national legislation. Nurses' knowledge and confidence had positive correlations with length of time working in ICU (p < 0.001), nurses' role in ICU (p < 0.001), completing further education in ICU (p < 0.001), completing training in organ donation (p < 0.001) and experience in organ donation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although attitudes to organ donation are influenced by society, culture and religious factors, nurses' education and experience caring for organ donors and their families are also important influencing factors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Providing specific training in organ donation and opportunities to build clinical experience in the area of organ donation will help ensure nurses have the knowledge and confidence to effectively contribute to the organ donation process.