Attitudes of Spanish and Mexican resident physicians faced with solid organ donation and transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The attitudes of specialist physicians toward organ donation and transplantation are of great interest because promotion of this activity depends on them. Our objective was to analyze the attitudes of residents in health centers in Spain (MIR) and in Mexico (ENARM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random stratified sample was obtained in six teaching hospitals: two in Spain (n = 246) and four in Mexico (n = 139) as part of the International Collaborative Program "Proyecto Donante, Murcia." The sample consisting of 385 trainee physicians completed a psychosocial questionnaire as the instrument to test their opinions.

RESULTS: Most residents (93%; n = 359), were in favor of deceased organ donation with 90% (n = 348) in favor of living kidney donation and 87% (n = 335) in favor of liver donation. Attitudes toward donation were similar among Spanish and Mexican residents regarding deceased donation (93% vs 94%; P > .05), living kidney donation (88% vs 94%; P > .05), and living liver donation (86% vs 89%; P > .05). None of the attitudes toward donation was associated with the classic psychosocial factors related to attitudes toward donation or job factors. Discussion within the family was associated with more positive attitudes toward deceased donation (P < .001), living donation of the kidney (P = .01), and of the liver (P = .019).

CONCLUSION: Attitudes toward various types of donation were favorable among both Spanish and Mexican trainee physicians, so that they could potentially act as a group to promote this activity, raising hopes for increased donation rates in the future.