Korean health professionals’ attitudes and knowledge toward organ donation and transplantation

Abstract 

The purpose of this study was to identify and analyse Korean health professionals’ attitudes and knowledge of organ donation and transplantation. An exploratory study using semi-structured interviews with nine key informants from three major hospitals which provide transplant services in Seoul was conducted. Overall, there was a lack of knowledge by Korean health professionals surrounding brain death and the organ procurement process. It was also found that the participants’ attitudes were mixed and somewhat negative, as they did not regard brain death as true death. In addition, a majority demonstrated a contradiction when it became a more personal issue.

Keywords:  Brain death, Organ donation and transplantation, Health professionals’ attitudes and knowledge, Korean background