Research Article

Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study

Volume: 9 Number: 3 May 19, 2026
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine Cover
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine
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Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation, and to determine the association of institutional training and clinical experience with their attitudes toward postmortem organ donation. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 446 intensive care nurses working in a tertiary care hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of four sections, including sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and experiences related to brain death and organ donation, and the Organ Donation Attitude Scale Toward Postmortem Organ Donation. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate parametric tests, with a significance level set at p<0.05. Results: The mean total attitude score was 4.07±0.63. While 21.1% of participants were registered organ donors, 63.9% expressed willingness to donate in the future. Participation in general educational activities was not associated with significant differences in attitude scores (p>0.05). However, nurses who attended institutional “brain death and donor care” training demonstrated significantly higher scores in the negative attitude subdimension (p=0.020), indicating more favorable attitudes after reverse scoring. Additionally, nurses with experience in following up patients diagnosed with brain death had significantly higher positive attitude and total scale scores (p=0.003 and p=0.010, respectively). No significant differences were observed based on donor care experience. Conclusion: Intensive care nurses demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward organ donation; however, a discrepancy between willingness and actual donor registration persists. Targeted institutional training and clinical exposure to brain death cases are associated with more positive attitudes. Expanding structured training programs and integrating nurses more actively into the organ donation process may improve donation rates.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Intensive Care, ICU Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

May 19, 2026

Submission Date

March 23, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 7, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1914262

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA63RA65WX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex
APA
Atlı, H. Z., Şenol, D., Tepe, T., Gürün, E., & Bozkuş, R. (2026). Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(3), 799-805. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1914262
AMA
1.Atlı HZ, Şenol D, Tepe T, Gürün E, Bozkuş R. Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(3):799-805. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1914262
Chicago
Atlı, Hatice Zeynep, Dürdane Şenol, Taşkın Tepe, Enes Gürün, and Rıfat Bozkuş. 2026. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences of Intensive Care Nurses Regarding Brain Death and Organ Donation: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (3): 799-805. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1914262.
EndNote
Atlı HZ, Şenol D, Tepe T, Gürün E, Bozkuş R (May 1, 2026) Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 3 799–805.
IEEE
[1]H. Z. Atlı, D. Şenol, T. Tepe, E. Gürün, and R. Bozkuş, “Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 799–805, May 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1914262.
ISNAD
Atlı, Hatice Zeynep - Şenol, Dürdane - Tepe, Taşkın - Gürün, Enes - Bozkuş, Rıfat. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences of Intensive Care Nurses Regarding Brain Death and Organ Donation: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/3 (May 1, 2026): 799-805. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1914262.
JAMA
1.Atlı HZ, Şenol D, Tepe T, Gürün E, Bozkuş R. Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:799–805.
MLA
Atlı, Hatice Zeynep, et al. “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences of Intensive Care Nurses Regarding Brain Death and Organ Donation: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 799-05, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1914262.
Vancouver
1.Hatice Zeynep Atlı, Dürdane Şenol, Taşkın Tepe, Enes Gürün, Rıfat Bozkuş. Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of intensive care nurses regarding brain death and organ donation: a cross-sectional study. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 May 1;9(3):799-805. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1914262

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