Attitudes toward xenotransplantation among nonhealth service workers in a hospital with a preclinical xenotransplantation program.

INTRODUCTION: Our hypothesis was that nonhealth workers (NHW) in our hospital should have a more favorable opinion toward xenotransplantation than the general population, given that this group is in closer contact with a preclinical xenotransplantation program. Therefore, our objective was to determine the attitude of NHW in a hospital with a preclinical liver xenotransplantation program and to determine the factors that influenced this attitude.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random sample of 276 subjects in nonhealth services was used. For the distribution of the questionnaire, we contacted the head of each of the services and explained the project. They became responsible for the distribution and collection of the questionnaires in randomly selected work shifts. A random sample of 250 individuals from our community was used as a control group.

RESULTS: As for animal organ donation for humans, if the results could be superimposed on those achieved by human donors, 63% would be in favor, 30% undecided, and the remaining 7% against. The attitude toward xenotransplantation was more favorable in the control group (74% versus 63%, P < .05). On analyzing the variables that influence attitudes toward xenotransplantation, we found that there is no significant relationship to the classical psychosocial variables (P > .05). However, there is a relationship to prior attitudes toward different types of human organ donation and the possibility of needing a transplant oneself.

CONCLUSIONS: The attitudes toward xenotransplantation among NHW are not as favorable as in the general population.