Exploring the Dynamics: A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Factors Influencing Organ Donation Decisions: A Scoping Review
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Abstract
Background: This scoping review explores the key demographic and psychosocial factors impacting organ donation, with a focus on studies utilizing online or digital platforms. We aimed to understand the existing facts that influence to effects of the organ donation decision.
Methods: This review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Medline was conducted using MeSH terms and logical operators to identify relevant studies published in English 2018 to 2023. Studies focusing on the demographics and influencing factors for organ donors of any age were included. Abstract concepts, conference proceedings, and non-English studies were excluded. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently conducted by two reviewers using standardized tools, including the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and Joanna Briggs Institute checklist.
Results: Out of 270 records identified, 9 studies met the inclusion criteria. The synthesis of results revealed three major themes: 1) demographic characteristics of organ donors, 2) psychosocial and digital factors influencing organ donation, and 3) interventions promoting awareness and engagement in organ donation. Online and digital platforms play a significant role in shaping attitudes, intentions, and awareness of organ donation. Quality assessment indicated a moderate-to-high level of methodological rigor across the included studies.
Conclusion: This review highlights the key factors influencing organ donation, particularly the role of digital platforms in enhancing awareness and engagement. Future research should focus on leveraging these insights to develop targeted interventions aimed at increasing organ donation rates globally.
1. Dibaba FK, Goro KK, Wolide AD, et al (2020). Knowledge, attitude and willing-ness to donate organ among medical students of Jimma University, Jimma Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 20(1):799.
2. Ríos A, López-Navas AI, García JA, et al (2017). The attitude of Latin American immigrants in Florida (USA) towards deceased organ donation – a cross sec-tion cohort study. Transpl Int, 30(10):1020–1031.
3. Nordfalk F, Olejaz M, Jensen AMB, et al (2016). From motivation to acceptability: A survey of public attitudes towards or-gan donation in Denmark. Transplant Res, 5:5.
4. Terbonssen T, Settmacher U, Wurst C, et al (2016). Attitude towards organ donation in German medical students. Langenbecks Arch Surg, 401(8):1231–1239.
5. Vijayalakshmi P, Math SB. (2016). Knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the general population towards organ donation: An Indian perspective. Nat Med J India, 29(5): 257-261.
6. Timar J, Bleil M, Daly T, et al (2021). Suc-cessful strategies to increase organ do-nation: The Gift of Life Donor Pro-gram Philadelphia model. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 37(Suppl 3):380–394.
7. Carola V, Morale C, Vincenzo C, et al (2023). Organ donation: Psychosocial factors of the decision-making process. Front Psychol, 14:1111328.
8. Castillo-Angeles M, Li G, Bain PA, et al (2021). Systematic review of hospital-level metrics and interventions to in-crease deceased organ donation. Trans-plant Rev (Orlando), 35(3):100613.
9. Birtan D, Arslantas MK, Dincer PC, et al (2017). Effect of interviews done by in-tensive care physicians on organ dona-tion. Transplant Proc, 49(3):396–398.
10. Bocci MG, D’Alò C, Barelli R, et al (2016). Taking care of relationships in the in-tensive care unit: Positive impact on family consent for organ donation. Transplant Proc, 48(10):3245–3250.
11. Ahmadian S, Khaghanizadeh M, Khaleghi E, et al (2020). Stressors experienced by the family members of brain-dead peo-ple during the process of organ dona-tion: A qualitative study. Death Stud, 44(12):759–770.
12. Agrawal M, Chandra PS, et al (2023). Major vessel injury during surgery—a neuro-surgeon’s nightmare. Neurol India, 71(6):1130-1131.
13. Sarmah S, Saikia B. (2019). Organ donation – Attitude and awareness among under-graduates and postgraduates of North-East India. J Family Med Prim Care, 8(1):130–136.
14. de Groot J, van Hoek M, Hoedemaekers C, et al (2015). Decision making on organ donation: The dilemmas of relatives of potential brain dead donors. BMC Med Ethics, 16(1):64.
15. Patel AH, Balwani MR, Patel H, et al (2018). Deceased organ donation in India – Current challenges and scenario. Indian J Transplant, 12(3):174.
16. Sachdeva S. (2017). Organ donation in In-dia: Scarcity in abundance. Indian J Pub-lic Health, 61(4):299-301.
17. Navin S, Suriyamoorthi S. (2020). Current state of acceptance of brain stem death and organ donation in India. Amrita J Med, 16(2):87.
18. Saxena D, Trivedi P, Bhavsar P, et al (2023). Challenges and motivators to organ do-nation: A qualitative exploratory study in Gujarat, India. Int J Gen Med, 16:151–159.
19. Pandit RA. (2017). Brain death and organ donation in India. Indian J Anaesth, 61(12):949–951.
20. Molina-Pérez A, Delgado J, Frunza M, et al (2022). Should the family have a role in deceased organ donation decision-making? A systematic review of public knowledge and attitudes towards organ procurement policies in Europe. Trans-plant Rev (Orlando), 36(1):100673.
21. Misra P, Malhotra S, Sharma N, et al (2021). Awareness about brain death and atti-tude towards organ donation in a rural area of Haryana, India. J Family Med Prim Care, 10(8):3084–3088.
22. Liu CW, Chen LN, Anwar A, et al (2021). Comparing organ donation decisions for next-of-kin versus the self: Results of a national survey. BMJ Open, 11(11):e051273.
23. Akpınar Söylemez B, Ordin YS, et al (2017). Attitudes of the third-year nursing stu-dents toward organ donation: Cross-sectional study. Transplant Proc, 49(8):1698–1701.
24. Demirkiran O, Bozbay S, Elmaagac M, et al (2019). Religious and cultural aspects of organ donation in the Turkish popu-lation. Transplant Proc, 51(7):2158–2162.
25. Soqia J, Ataya J, Alhomsi R, et al (2023). At-titudes and factors influencing organ donation decision-making in Damascus, Syria: A cross-sectional study. Sci Rep, 13(1): 18150.
26. Webb G, Phillips N, Reddiford S, et al (2015). Factors affecting the decision to grant consent for organ donation: A survey of adults in England. Transplanta-tion, 99(7):1396-402.
27. AlSubaie RS, Alhamaid YA, Alali RS, et al (2023). Factors influencing individuals’ decision-making regarding hematopoiet-ic stem cell donation: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia. Cureus, 15(9):e46015.
28. Alessa MY, Albedaiwi MS, Al Mousa AM, et al (2023). Knowledge and attitude of or-gan donation in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia and the influence of social media campaigns: A cross-sectional study. Ann Med Surg (Lond), 85(3):394–401.
29. Stadlbauer V, Zink C, Likar P, et al (2020). Family discussions and demographic factors influence adolescent’s knowledge and attitude towards organ donation after brain death: A question-naire study. BMC Med Ethics, 21(1):57.
30. Chen X, Wei W, Ai W, et al (2023). Organ donation: Key factors influencing the younger generation’s decision-making in China. Front Public Health, 11:1052875.
31. Etheredge HR. (2021). Assessing global or-gan donation policies: Opt-in vs opt-out. Risk Manag Healthc Policy, 14:1985–1998.
32. Nguyen D. (2016). Brain death and true pa-tient care. Linacre Q, 83(3):258–282.
33. Beigzadeh A, Bahmanbijari B, Salajegheh M, et al (2015). Factors influencing deci-sions on organ donation in brain death patients. J Emerg Pract Trauma, 1(2):60–66.
34. Randhawa G, Brocklehurst A, Pateman R, et al (2012). Religion and organ dona-tion: The views of UK faith leaders. J Relig Health, 51(3):743–751.
35. Koopman S. (2022). Reconstructing values and political preferences: The family caregiver role in the decision-making process of those afflicted by acquired brain injury [Master Thesis]. Utrecht University. Available from: https://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/42004
36. Dalal AR. (2015). Philosophy of organ do-nation: Review of ethical facets. World J Transplant, 5(2):44–51.
37. Krupic F, Krupic M, Kovacevic-Prstojevic J, et al (2024). Prejudice and fear as influ-ences in relation to a successful organ donation—Experiences of immigrants living in Sweden. Acta Med Acad, 53(1):35–45.
38. Abdulrazeq F, Matsumoto MM, Zourob M, et al (2020). Barriers in knowledge and attitudes regarding organ donation among urban Jordanian population. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl, 31(3):624-638.
39. Cipolletta S, Tomaino SCM, Brena A, et al (2023). Life beyond life: Perceptions of post-mortem organ donation and con-sent to donate—a focus group study in Italy. Br J Health Psychol, 28(4):1222–1240.
40. Wu Y, Elliott R, Li L, et al (2018). Cadaveric organ donation in China: A crossroads for ethics and sociocultural factors. Med-icine (Baltimore), 97(10):e9951.
41. Yousefi H, Roshani A, Nazari F, et al (2014). Experiences of the families con-cerning organ donation of a family member with brain death. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res, 19(3):323–330.
42. Padela AI, Curlin FA. (2013). Religion and disparities: Considering the influences of Islam on the health of American Muslims. J Relig Health, 52(4):1333–1345.
43. Mostafazadeh-Bora M, Zarghami A. (2017). The crucial role of cultural and religious beliefs on organ transplantation. Int J Organ Transplant Med, 8(1):54.
44. Pourhosein E, Bagherpour F, Latifi M, et al (2022). The influence of socioeconomic factors on deceased organ donation in Iran. Korean J Transplant, 36(1):54–60.
45. Heitland L, von Hirschhausen E, Fischer F, et al (2020). Effects of humorous inter-ventions on the willingness to donate organs: A quasi-experimental study in the context of medical cabaret. BMC Public Health, 20(1):288.
46. Johnston-Webber C, Mah J, Streit S, et al (2023). A conceptual framework for evaluating national organ donation and transplantation programs. Transpl Int, 36:11006.
47. Escoto M, Issa F, Cayouette F, et al (2023). Research and innovation in organ dona-tion: Recommendations from an inter-national consensus forum. Transplant Di-rect, 9(5):e1446.
2. Ríos A, López-Navas AI, García JA, et al (2017). The attitude of Latin American immigrants in Florida (USA) towards deceased organ donation – a cross sec-tion cohort study. Transpl Int, 30(10):1020–1031.
3. Nordfalk F, Olejaz M, Jensen AMB, et al (2016). From motivation to acceptability: A survey of public attitudes towards or-gan donation in Denmark. Transplant Res, 5:5.
4. Terbonssen T, Settmacher U, Wurst C, et al (2016). Attitude towards organ donation in German medical students. Langenbecks Arch Surg, 401(8):1231–1239.
5. Vijayalakshmi P, Math SB. (2016). Knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the general population towards organ donation: An Indian perspective. Nat Med J India, 29(5): 257-261.
6. Timar J, Bleil M, Daly T, et al (2021). Suc-cessful strategies to increase organ do-nation: The Gift of Life Donor Pro-gram Philadelphia model. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 37(Suppl 3):380–394.
7. Carola V, Morale C, Vincenzo C, et al (2023). Organ donation: Psychosocial factors of the decision-making process. Front Psychol, 14:1111328.
8. Castillo-Angeles M, Li G, Bain PA, et al (2021). Systematic review of hospital-level metrics and interventions to in-crease deceased organ donation. Trans-plant Rev (Orlando), 35(3):100613.
9. Birtan D, Arslantas MK, Dincer PC, et al (2017). Effect of interviews done by in-tensive care physicians on organ dona-tion. Transplant Proc, 49(3):396–398.
10. Bocci MG, D’Alò C, Barelli R, et al (2016). Taking care of relationships in the in-tensive care unit: Positive impact on family consent for organ donation. Transplant Proc, 48(10):3245–3250.
11. Ahmadian S, Khaghanizadeh M, Khaleghi E, et al (2020). Stressors experienced by the family members of brain-dead peo-ple during the process of organ dona-tion: A qualitative study. Death Stud, 44(12):759–770.
12. Agrawal M, Chandra PS, et al (2023). Major vessel injury during surgery—a neuro-surgeon’s nightmare. Neurol India, 71(6):1130-1131.
13. Sarmah S, Saikia B. (2019). Organ donation – Attitude and awareness among under-graduates and postgraduates of North-East India. J Family Med Prim Care, 8(1):130–136.
14. de Groot J, van Hoek M, Hoedemaekers C, et al (2015). Decision making on organ donation: The dilemmas of relatives of potential brain dead donors. BMC Med Ethics, 16(1):64.
15. Patel AH, Balwani MR, Patel H, et al (2018). Deceased organ donation in India – Current challenges and scenario. Indian J Transplant, 12(3):174.
16. Sachdeva S. (2017). Organ donation in In-dia: Scarcity in abundance. Indian J Pub-lic Health, 61(4):299-301.
17. Navin S, Suriyamoorthi S. (2020). Current state of acceptance of brain stem death and organ donation in India. Amrita J Med, 16(2):87.
18. Saxena D, Trivedi P, Bhavsar P, et al (2023). Challenges and motivators to organ do-nation: A qualitative exploratory study in Gujarat, India. Int J Gen Med, 16:151–159.
19. Pandit RA. (2017). Brain death and organ donation in India. Indian J Anaesth, 61(12):949–951.
20. Molina-Pérez A, Delgado J, Frunza M, et al (2022). Should the family have a role in deceased organ donation decision-making? A systematic review of public knowledge and attitudes towards organ procurement policies in Europe. Trans-plant Rev (Orlando), 36(1):100673.
21. Misra P, Malhotra S, Sharma N, et al (2021). Awareness about brain death and atti-tude towards organ donation in a rural area of Haryana, India. J Family Med Prim Care, 10(8):3084–3088.
22. Liu CW, Chen LN, Anwar A, et al (2021). Comparing organ donation decisions for next-of-kin versus the self: Results of a national survey. BMJ Open, 11(11):e051273.
23. Akpınar Söylemez B, Ordin YS, et al (2017). Attitudes of the third-year nursing stu-dents toward organ donation: Cross-sectional study. Transplant Proc, 49(8):1698–1701.
24. Demirkiran O, Bozbay S, Elmaagac M, et al (2019). Religious and cultural aspects of organ donation in the Turkish popu-lation. Transplant Proc, 51(7):2158–2162.
25. Soqia J, Ataya J, Alhomsi R, et al (2023). At-titudes and factors influencing organ donation decision-making in Damascus, Syria: A cross-sectional study. Sci Rep, 13(1): 18150.
26. Webb G, Phillips N, Reddiford S, et al (2015). Factors affecting the decision to grant consent for organ donation: A survey of adults in England. Transplanta-tion, 99(7):1396-402.
27. AlSubaie RS, Alhamaid YA, Alali RS, et al (2023). Factors influencing individuals’ decision-making regarding hematopoiet-ic stem cell donation: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia. Cureus, 15(9):e46015.
28. Alessa MY, Albedaiwi MS, Al Mousa AM, et al (2023). Knowledge and attitude of or-gan donation in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia and the influence of social media campaigns: A cross-sectional study. Ann Med Surg (Lond), 85(3):394–401.
29. Stadlbauer V, Zink C, Likar P, et al (2020). Family discussions and demographic factors influence adolescent’s knowledge and attitude towards organ donation after brain death: A question-naire study. BMC Med Ethics, 21(1):57.
30. Chen X, Wei W, Ai W, et al (2023). Organ donation: Key factors influencing the younger generation’s decision-making in China. Front Public Health, 11:1052875.
31. Etheredge HR. (2021). Assessing global or-gan donation policies: Opt-in vs opt-out. Risk Manag Healthc Policy, 14:1985–1998.
32. Nguyen D. (2016). Brain death and true pa-tient care. Linacre Q, 83(3):258–282.
33. Beigzadeh A, Bahmanbijari B, Salajegheh M, et al (2015). Factors influencing deci-sions on organ donation in brain death patients. J Emerg Pract Trauma, 1(2):60–66.
34. Randhawa G, Brocklehurst A, Pateman R, et al (2012). Religion and organ dona-tion: The views of UK faith leaders. J Relig Health, 51(3):743–751.
35. Koopman S. (2022). Reconstructing values and political preferences: The family caregiver role in the decision-making process of those afflicted by acquired brain injury [Master Thesis]. Utrecht University. Available from: https://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/42004
36. Dalal AR. (2015). Philosophy of organ do-nation: Review of ethical facets. World J Transplant, 5(2):44–51.
37. Krupic F, Krupic M, Kovacevic-Prstojevic J, et al (2024). Prejudice and fear as influ-ences in relation to a successful organ donation—Experiences of immigrants living in Sweden. Acta Med Acad, 53(1):35–45.
38. Abdulrazeq F, Matsumoto MM, Zourob M, et al (2020). Barriers in knowledge and attitudes regarding organ donation among urban Jordanian population. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl, 31(3):624-638.
39. Cipolletta S, Tomaino SCM, Brena A, et al (2023). Life beyond life: Perceptions of post-mortem organ donation and con-sent to donate—a focus group study in Italy. Br J Health Psychol, 28(4):1222–1240.
40. Wu Y, Elliott R, Li L, et al (2018). Cadaveric organ donation in China: A crossroads for ethics and sociocultural factors. Med-icine (Baltimore), 97(10):e9951.
41. Yousefi H, Roshani A, Nazari F, et al (2014). Experiences of the families con-cerning organ donation of a family member with brain death. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res, 19(3):323–330.
42. Padela AI, Curlin FA. (2013). Religion and disparities: Considering the influences of Islam on the health of American Muslims. J Relig Health, 52(4):1333–1345.
43. Mostafazadeh-Bora M, Zarghami A. (2017). The crucial role of cultural and religious beliefs on organ transplantation. Int J Organ Transplant Med, 8(1):54.
44. Pourhosein E, Bagherpour F, Latifi M, et al (2022). The influence of socioeconomic factors on deceased organ donation in Iran. Korean J Transplant, 36(1):54–60.
45. Heitland L, von Hirschhausen E, Fischer F, et al (2020). Effects of humorous inter-ventions on the willingness to donate organs: A quasi-experimental study in the context of medical cabaret. BMC Public Health, 20(1):288.
46. Johnston-Webber C, Mah J, Streit S, et al (2023). A conceptual framework for evaluating national organ donation and transplantation programs. Transpl Int, 36:11006.
47. Escoto M, Issa F, Cayouette F, et al (2023). Research and innovation in organ dona-tion: Recommendations from an inter-national consensus forum. Transplant Di-rect, 9(5):e1446.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 54 No 6 (2025) | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Tissue and organ procurement Brain death Transplantation Opinion | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Nadaf H, Jabade M, Khande A, Udapi G, Patil VC. Exploring the Dynamics: A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Factors Influencing Organ Donation Decisions: A Scoping Review. Iran J Public Health. 2025;54(6):1160-1170.
