Introduction: Nearly 42000 people in Turkey are waiting for organ transplantation. However, each year approximately 2000 people die while waiting for organ transplantation. In 2015, only 472 organs were donated from 1969 patients with brain death, with family permission.
Aim: Aim of study is to investigate reasons of low organ donation rate in Turkey and propose recommendations to increase organ donation.
Material and Methods: Number of people participated in this descriptive study was 538. Data was collected during Organ Donation Week via a structured survey in Istanbul. SPSS 23.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Chi-square test was used for comparisons between categorical variables. Logistic regression model used to find independent predictors affecting people’s statements regarding organ donation. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results and Discussion: Of participants 53.8% were female (n = 257). Mean age of participants was 27.98 (sd=10.8) (15-67).  Majority of participants had university education (41.7% n =184). 54.4% of participants (n=280) stated they had information about organ donation. Participants stated organ donation could be made from a living human (60.8% n =309), cadavers (58.3% n=295), animals (5.3% n=27), laboratory (10.8% n =58). Source of information about organ donation was reported as mass media (41.8% n =198), social environment (21.3% n=101), hospital (17.5% n=83) or other sources (19.4% n=92). Participants with relatives waiting for organ transplantation were more likely to state they would donate their organs (73.0% n=27), than participants without relatives who needed transplantation (63.8% n=275), this difference was statistically not significant (p=0.263). Similarly, women were more likely to express they would donate their organs (72.5% n=169) than men (53.5% n=108) (p<0,001).  As education level of participants increases, percentage of statement that they have knowledge about organ donation increases (p <0,001). Participants who expressed they have knowledge about organ transplantation were more likely to express they would donate their organs (75% n=192) than participants who expressed little or no knowledge (52.4% n=111) (p<0,001). According to logistic regression model, statement on organ donation was independently associated with gender (p=0.002 Odds Ratio (OR)= 3.057; 95% Confidence interval (CI):1,522-6,141) and knowledge about organ transplantation (p=0.003 OR=2.797; 95% CI: 1.418-5.518).
Conclusion: While education, having a relative waiting transplantation increase knowledge regarding organ transplantation; promotion of public awareness and coverage of knowledge about organ transplantation is needed. Mass media messages addressing organ transplantation and specific, well-structured education for patients visiting hospitals, family health centers can increase awareness about organ transplantation. Any intervention should especially cover, target population with low education and men.