Beliefs and Intention to Organ Donation in Saudi Arabia: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey.

objectiveDespite concerted and directed efforts to increase organ donation, the gap between the need for organs for transplantation and the lack of donors has been increasing globally. Studies have shown that donor rates in countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, are particularly low despite a relatively advanced healthcare system and supportive government policies. There are multiple psychosocial, cultural, religious, and structural factors, that influence the increase in the organ donation rate, and some of them may be unique to a country such as Saudi Arabia. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) is an important theory utilised to study how various types of attitudes, beliefs, and norms, influence organ donation intention and practice. In this study, we aimed to explore the normative, behavioural, and control beliefs, among residents of Saudi Arabia.

methodsThe current study was a cross-sectional online survey performed from 6 June 2021 to 31 December 2021, using a questionnaire prepared in GoogleTM form among the residents of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire asked demographic factors and questions to explore the normative, behavioural, and control beliefs, regarding organ donation.

resultsThis study received 1245 valid responses. Among the study participants, only 19.6% were willing to register as an Organ/Tissue donors. The intention for organ donation showed a statistically significant positive association with beliefs that organ donation is a good thing (123.51, df 4,

conclusionThis study found that most of the components under normative and behavioural beliefs showed positive correlation with a definite intention for organ donation, whereas most of the components under control beliefs showed negative correlation with a definite intention for organ donation, among Saudi population. Based on the study results, there is a need to promote awareness regarding the organ donation process, especially the religious permissibility of organ donation, among general public in order to promote organ donation.