Özet:

Aim: Today, organ transplantation is only performed in patients who are in the terminal phase of disease. However, even countries with well-established cadaveric organ procurement systems are unable to provide the number of transplants required, and the solutions to this problem are still not clear. The hesitance of the people to donate their organs in life or after death lies in the core of this problem. This descriptive study was planned and applied to assess the knowledge and attitudes of hospitalized patients’ relatives toward organ donation. Material and Method: Total 338 voluntary people who hospitalized patients’ relatives at Bandırma Mustafa Güven Karahan (160 beds) and Kapıdağ State Hospitals (250 beds) between the dates of April 15 and May 31, 2007 were enrolled in research. Data were collected using the questionnaire (26 items) which prepared by researchers. Before the study, permission was taken from the hospitals and persons. The analysis of the data was obtained by using descriptive statistical and chi-square test in SPSS 11.0. Results: Mean age of person who participated in the study was 40.72±13.28 years.73.1% of them were woman, 76.9% were married, 52.4% had education in primary school level, 54.4% were housewife and 71.0% were living in district. It was determined that 55.3’% of the patients’ relatives had information about the subject, 75.4% of the person were volunteers, 90.5% of the persons were believed in the necessity organ donation, 92.0% of them do not know where to apply. Reasons for refusal to donate organs were as follows: lack of confidence a doctor (20.4%), personal choice (16.0%), instability (10.9%) and didn’t want to be cut into pieces of their body (9.5%). Conclusion: As a conclusion, health knowledge of patients’ relatives about organ transplantation was low. There was a difference between attitudes and behaviors about organ transplantation; the rate of organ donation was low in patients’ relatives that went to donate. The results of this study suggested that training of patients’ relatives on organ donation was essential

Anahtar Kelimeler: