Clearing the path to vision restoration: an analysis of attitudes and associated factors towards cornea donation in Syria

BMJ Open Ophthalmology

article

Jameel Soqia¹  Rawan Alhomsi¹  Jamal Ataya³  Obaida Al-Mashhour¹  Farah Hamzeh¹  Romeo Hamwy¹  Siba Sulayman¹  Nadimah Alhomsi⁵  Ammar Hamzeh¹ 

[1]Faculty of Medicine , Damascus University

[2]Department of Ophthalmology , Al Baath University

[3]Faculty of Medicine , University of Aleppo

[4]Department of Ophthalmology , Damascus University

[5]Faculty of Medicine , Al Baath University

关键词: cornea;   

DOI  :  10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001290

学科分类：工业工程学

来源: BMJ Publishing Group

【 摘 要 】

Objective This study aims to assess attitudes and associated factors towards cornea donation among visitors of a main public hospital in Damascus. Findings of this study can contribute to the development of effective donation campaigns and applying cornea donation in Syria.Methods This cross-sectional study included individuals who were above 18 years old and were visitors of Al-Mouwasat University Hospital in Damascus, Syria. Data were gathered using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews with the participants. A validated questionnaire was used and consisted of three sections: demographic information, awareness assessment and evaluation of participants’ attitudes towards corneal donation. Associations between participants’ demographics and variables were tested using χ2 test, and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results 637 participants were randomly interviewed. 70.8% of the sample were female and 45.7% have heard about cornea donation. 68.3% of the participants accepted donation of their cornea after death, but this decreased to 56.2% when it comes to donation from relatives after their death. The main reasons for refusing and accepting cornea donation were religious beliefs (10.8%) and intention to help others (65.8%), respectively. Women were more likely to accept donation after death than men (71.4% vs 60.8%, p=0.009). Finally, acceptance of cornea donation would increase if participants lived in a more developed country (71.7% vs 68.3%).Conclusion Despite the high willingness, corneal donation in Syria is still not enough. Corneal donation requires an ensured donation system that supports and organises the processes, a simplified education about the importance of donation, and clarifying the right instructions of religion.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC|CC BY|CC BY-NC-ND