Societal attitudes toward death and awareness of death confirmation: an internet survey

Abstract

Background: The progress and development of treatment methods and techniques have made the previous criteria for recognizing human death imprecise and insufficient. Thus, a medical line had to be drawn between life and death. Attitudes towards death and awareness concerning its confirmation, although often marginalized, undergo significant changes over time depending on the social space they concern. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to examine social attitudes towards death and the level of awareness concerning its confirmation. Material and methods: This research on attitudes and knowledge regarding brain death involved 400 randomly selected respondents who were Internet users. The research was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020 using the CAWI method and a proprietary questionnaire. Results: An older age, a higher level of education, and less frequent religious practice were significantly associated with knowledge of brain death. Of particular note, more complete knowledge of brain death was associated with greater support for organ transplantation, and this relationship was most evident in individuals willing to donate their own organs. Conclusions: There is a clear variation in the level of knowledge about brain death. At least a high level of knowledge was held by 40.3% (161) of the respondents, and the same percentage was seen for those with at most a low level of knowledge (40.3%, 161). Regardless of who would be the organ donor, whether a loved one or a stranger, the respondents overwhelmingly supported organ transplantation after death. Acceptance of organ donation was higher when respondents had more knowledge of what brain death is