Population of Cienfuegos (Cuba) and Their Knowledge About the Concept of Brain Death: Multivariate Analysis of the Associated Psychosocial Factors

Abstract

Introduction: The favorable knowledge of the concept of brain death (BD) is a determinant for organ donation.

Objective: To analyze the level of knowledge of the concept of BD in the population of Cienfuegos (Cuba) and determine the factors that condition it.

Methods: Sample of Cubans residing in Cienfuegos (n = 636) stratified by age and sex. The assessment instrument is the validated questionnaire of attitude toward donation and transplant, "PCID-DTO-Ríos," self-administered and anonymously filled out.

Statistics: χ², Student t test, and a logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 636 individuals completed the questionnaire. Fifty percent of participants understood the concept of BD and accept it as a person's death (n = 318). Of the rest, 13.4% (n = 85) did not understand it, and 36.6% (n = 233) had a misconception. The marital status (be married and / or with a partner) of the respondent is associated with the knowledge BD (P < .001) as are the following variables: level of education; offspring; having discussed the issue of donation and transplantation with the family; opinion of the couple toward donation and transplantation; religion; and favorable attitude toward the organ donation and transplant. In the multivariate analysis, the following are independent variables: 1. studies (odds ratio [OR] = 4.664; P = .002); 2. has no offspring (OR = 3.129; P < .001); 3. has commented on it in the family nucleus (OR = 2.759; P < .001); 4. despite having an opinion against (OR = 16.999; P < .001); 5. religion (OR = 1.878; P = .042); and 6. favorable attitude toward the donation of cadaver organs (OR = 2.026; P = .011).

Conclusions: Half of the population of Cienfuegos knows and accepts the concept of BD as the death of an individual, associating said acceptance with a favorable attitude toward organ donation.