Abstract

GOMEZ-RAZURI, Katherine; BALLENA-LOPEZ, José  and  LEON-JIMENEZ, Franco. Myths about organ donation on health personnel, potential recipients and relatives of potential donors in a peruvian hospital: a qualitative study. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica [online]. 2016, vol.33, n.1, pp.83-91. ISSN 1726-4634.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2016.331.2011.

Objectives.To explore the myths regarding organ donation at a national hospital in Lambayeque, Peru during 2014. Materials and methods.A qualitative-phenomenological study was performed using 24 unstructured in-depht interview of health personnel, potential recipients and relatives of potential donors. Sampling was intentional opinion-based, completed by theoretical saturation in each group. An interview guide was used, which was assessed by five experts, and data triangulation was performed. Results. Twenty-three interviewees (95,8%) reported a favorable attitude towards organ donation. On their National Identification Document, thirteen (54,2%) had marked "no" for donation. The myths were: age or illness can preclude donation; that the recipient may experience the donor's behaviours and lives in it; brain death is undestood as the immobility of the body and a reversible state; religions do not accept organ donation because it affects physical integrity and resurrection; and that there are preferences on the organ donor waiting list and that organ trafficking taxes place. Conclusions. Myths explored in this study involved religious, socio-cultural, psychological and ethical misperceptions. The apparent lack of knowledge of the brain death diagnosis is the starting point of the donation process. Therefore, the presence of a hospital coordinator, the role of spiritual leaders and the correct information provided by media would be key parts to dispell these myths.

Keywords : Folklore; Tissue and organ procurement; Organ transplantation; Brain death; Organ trafficking; Qualitative analysis.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )