International Population Study in Spain, Cuba, and the United States of Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Among the Cuban Population

Abstract

Cuban immigrants constitute an important group in both the United States and Spain, with different behaviors toward organ donation having been described among the different Latin American nationalities. We analyzed the attitude toward organ donation among the Cuban populations in Cuba, Spain, and Florida. The study population was Cuban immigrants over 15 years of age residing in Cuba, Spain, and Florida, with samples randomly stratified by age and sex. A validated questionnaire on psychosocial aspects of organ donation (PCID‐DTO Rios) was used. Census was used as the sampling base in all 3 countries; however, additionally, in Spain and the United States (Florida), we sought the support of immigration support associations to determine the Cuban population without legal documentation. The questionnaire was completed anonymously and self‐administered. The completion rate of the study was 74% (4123/5574) among 424 surveyed in Spain, 1224 in Florida, and 2475 in Cuba. The attitude in favor of donating their own organs upon death was 60.6% of those surveyed in Spain, 37.6% in Florida, and 68.9% in Cuba, or 58% of the global sample. Multivariate analysis showed that country of residence was an independent factor associated with attitude toward organ donation (odds ratio, 1.929). Other factors associated with attitude were sex, educational level, performance of prosocial activities, knowledge of the brain death concept, religion, the couple’s opinion toward donation, fear of mutilation after donation, and attitude toward manipulation of the body after death. The attitude toward organ donation among Cubans in their country of origin and immigrants in Spain was similar, being significantly different from those who emigrate to Florida, where the attitude is much less favorable.

The Willingness to Donate Organs in Medical Students From an International Perspective: A Meta-Analysis

“…First, geographical area influences the willingness to donate. Differences in organ donation systems and organ requesting protocols in each country mean that even people from similar cultural backgrounds (e.g., Latin) and living in different geographic areas could exhibit different levels of disposition to donate ( 2 ). Second, attitudes to donation are dependent on the local cultural and socioeconomic background.…”

Public Attitudes Toward Organ Donation. Development and Validation of a New Instrument (PAOD)

“…Others highlighted different factors associated with attitude toward organ donation, such as age, marital status, occupation, religious [13][14][15] , education 16 , income 17 , race, gender 18,19 , socioeconomic status, ethnic sensitivities, cultural beliefs 20,21 , distrust of health care system, fear of mutilation after donation, and knowledge of the organ donation and brain death concept [22][23][24] .…”

Organ xenotransplantation acceptance in veterinary students: A multicentric opinion study in Spain

“…This study is included in the “Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante‐PCID (España)” (International Collaborative Organ Donation Project) 19 . It is part of a macro‐population study, one of the objectives of which is to carry out a quality analysis 20 of the attitudes related to organ donation and transplantation, 21 among others, of Spanish students in Health Science disciplines, including students of Medicine, Nursing and Veterinary Medicine 22,23 . It is essential to know and analyze the attitude towards all aspects related to organ donation and transplantation of the professionals who, in the future, will have to work in this field.…”