LAUSR

Background This study aimed to investigate the effects of phased education on attitudes toward organ donation and willingness to donate after brain death. Material and Methods A survey using a questionnaire to examine attitudes toward organ donation was conducted on the families of patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit between March 1 2014 and September 30 2016. Results Ninety-two people voluntarily participated in this survey. Before undergoing education, 75.0% had positive attitudes toward organ donation, 60.9% were willing to donate from their own bodies, and 38.0% were willing to donate from family members. After education, these figures increased to 92.4%, 80.4%, and 56.5%, respectively. Before education, there was significant difference in consistency between people’s attitudes toward and willingness to donate their own organs (79.3%) versus donating from family members (54.3%) (p < 0.001). With phased education, these percentages increased from 79.3% to 85.9% with regard to donating from one’s own body, and from 54.3% to 64.1% with regard to donating from family members. Conclusions Phased education was effective overall, but it had a limited effect on change of practice toward donating organs from family members. It increased the consistency between people’s attitudes toward and willingness to donate from themselves and from family members.