Vol. 2 No. 3 (2023): infermieristica journal: your heart, our beat
Articles

The “Psychology” of organ donation: two exploratory studies considering Italian “Health professionals” and “Citizens”

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  • Franca Paola Severino,
  • Andrea Guazzini,
  • Laura Rasero,
  • Stefano Bambi,
  • Guya Piemonte,
  • Samuele Baldassini Rodriguez
Franca Paola Severino
Università degli Studi di Firenze
Andrea Guazzini
Department of Education, LIteratures, Intercultural studies, Languages, and Psychology, University of Florence
Laura Rasero
Department of Health Sciences University of Florence
Stefano Bambi
Department of Health Sciences University of Florence
Guya Piemonte
AUSL Toscana centro - PO S. maria Annunziata
Samuele Baldassini Rodriguez
Emergency and Trauma Intensive Care Unite, Careggi University Hospital
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/if-2120

Published 2023-10-31

Keywords

  • COVID-19,
  • Organ Donation,
  • Psychosocial Factors,
  • Ethnicity,
  • Psychology

Copyright (c) 2023 Franca Paola Severino, Andrea Guazzini, Laura Rasero, Stefano Bambi, Guya Piemonte, Samuele Baldassini Rodriguez

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Background: Transplantation extends and improves lives, but the shortage of organs is one of the main factors limiting the number of transplants in Italy.
Objectives: The aim of this research was to understand the psychological and socio demographic determinants that can be related to the manifestation of the willingness to donate in a sample of citizens and professionals.
Methods: In the study conducted on two samples (health professionals and citizens), two self-administered questionnaires were created ad hoc and administered to the participants recruited by means of a snowballing not-randoming procedure.
Results: 386 citizens and 122 health professionals completed the questionnaire. Results frequently supported the literature. Specifically, with reference to the sample of citizens, (a) women are more likely to express a willingness to donate than men; furthermore, (b) having a realistic knowledge of the topic has a relationship with this manifestation. In both samples, (c) having previously discussed the topic of donation is relevant to expressing willingness to donate. With reference to the sample of professionals only, (d) having received training on organ donation has a relationship with practitioners' willingness to donate.
Conclusion: There are several factors that influence the manifestation of willingness to donate in both samples. Efforts should be stepped up to provide comprehensive and appropriate education, knowledge and training on the subject to increase willingness to donate.

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