The purpose of this study was to evaluate public awareness about organ transplantation and attitudes about donation in Puerto Rico. Three hundred questionnaires were administered from a booth that was part of a large exhibit during Renal Awareness Week in a busy metropolitan shopping area. Two hundred additional questionnaires were administered from a similar booth in the lobby of a transplant hospital in Puerto Rico.

Of those questioned, 85% knew that kidneys are transplanted in Puerto Rico, and 61% knew corneas were transplanted in Puerto Rico. Almost 85% knew what dialysis is. Sex, residence, place of work, religion, income and having a friend or relative on dialysis did not influence knowledge about donation/transplantation. All questions about attitudes revealed that more than 60% (range 65.0% to 85.2%) would donate to various family members or after death. Interestingly, a lower proportion, 62.1% would donate a relative’s organ after death.

Although this study sample is biased toward higher knowledge and perhaps toward reporting better attitudes toward donation, the authors conclude that these findings suggest a positive impact of education programs on public awareness in Puerto Rico. It is uncertain whether the actual donation rate would correspond with the rate we might expect from this survey, once factors such as the grieving process are taken into consideration.