Information received by secondary school teaching personnel about organ donation and transplantation: a study in the southeast of Spain.

BACKGROUND

Information about organ donation and transplantation (ODT) is the basis on which attitude toward this subject is shaped. The information about ODT that teachers can provide to school children is fundamental for them to develop a favorable attitude to this matter in the future.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were: 1) to determine the type of information on ODT received by secondary school teachers; 2) to determine through which means teachers obtain information about donation; and 3) to determine the influence of each information source on their attitudes.

METHODS

A sample was selected from 10 secondary schools, which were geographically stratified in southeast Spain. A validated questionnaire was applied about attitude toward ODT among teachers (n = 327), which was completed anonymously and was self-administered. The statistical analysis used the Student t test and the chi-square test.

RESULTS

The questionnaire completion rate was 88% (n = 288); 99% (n = 286) of the responding teachers stated that they had received some information about ODT, and 40% (n = 117) indicated that they had good or very good information. The teachers received information about ODT from several sources, the most frequent being audiovisual means: television (89%), press (60%), and radio (47%). Social/family means were also important, such as conversations with other people (51%) and conversations with family members (39%). Teachers who reported having good information were more in favor of ODT than those who had limited or no information (P = .001). Only the exchange of information through conversations with family members was related to a positive attitude (P = .009).

CONCLUSIONS

Most secondary school teachers in southeast Spain receive information about ODT. However, fewer than half think that the information is good. Teachers receive information through different means, especially audiovisual means, mainly television. Nevertheless, the social/family means has the most influence on attitude.