PURPOSE: After the administration of Organ Transplantation Law in Feb. 9. 2000, the number of brain death donation has decreased due to the strictness of donation process, the lack of publicity activities, so the activation of brain death donation issue has arose. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse is the first person that contacts with the brain death donor, the provider of donor care and also the maker of rapport with patient family, accordingly they are considered to be one of the important human resource. The purpose of this study is to analyse the attitude of the brain death donation and the relative factors. METHODS: The subjects were 184 ICU nurses in hospitals, who work in the Neurosurgery and Neurology ICU. RESULTS: (1) The rate of positive attitude about organ donation for the nurses who have the knowledge of enforcement of 'Organ Transplantion Law', the knowledge of first connect point is KONOS (Korean Network for Organ Sharing) and the knowledge of brain death organ donation nursing care, was higher than the others with p=0.050, p=0.029 and p=0.048, respectively. (2) The rate of positive attitude about organ donation for the nurses who experienced the complete process of organ donation, received education on organ donation and transplant, was higher than the others with p=0.007, p=0.043, respectively. The nurses who did not experience brain death organ donation nursing care had higher rate of negative attitude than the others with p=0.022, and for those who have experienced the complete process of organ donation nursing care had a higher negative attitude than others with p=0.006. (3) The positive attitude items were divided 3 groups - the respondants' recognition and will, the benefits of organ donation, the role of organ donation process. The negative attitude items were divided 3 groups - the difficulty of organ donation, the respondants' opposition, the uncoorperation of gaurdians and medical staffs. CONCLUSION: The results of this study is believed to be a useful tool in facilitating organ donation as a groundwork for publicity, education and policy.
Brain Death* ; Brain* ; Critical Care* ; Education ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Jurisprudence ; Medical Staff ; Neurology ; Neurosurgery ; Nursing Care ; Organ Transplantation ; Tissue and Organ Procurement* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants