Abstract 3713
Background
Extensive literature from Turkey and around the world have described factors associated with donating bone marrow and knowledge about bone marrow donation. However to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that focused on awareness of cancer and non-cancer patients and their family caregivers as well bone marrow donation and transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine if there are any differences between cancer and non-cancer patients and their family caregivers’ awareness of bone marrow donation and transplantation.
Methods
This is a descriptive study conducted in Turkey. We recruited the patients and family members who were admitted to Medical Oncology, Hematology and General Medicine. This study was approved by the hospital Institutional Review Board. Data was collected by researchers after written inform consent was obtained from each patient and family member via face to face interviews using the data collection form developed by researchers based on literature.The SPSS 21.00 was used to analyze the data. The Chi-square test was performed to evaluate differences among groups.
Results
Although most of the patients and family caregivers were aware of what bone marrow transplantation and bone marrow donation are they did not know how to donate bone marrow. Most of the patient and family caregivers who know what the bone marrow transplantation and donation are stated that they learned about bone marrow transplantation and donation through television, internet, and health professionals. Compared to the non-cancer patients, believing in bone marrow transplantation is lifesaving, knowing exactly what the bone marrow transplantation is, and how to donate bone marrow were more in the cancer patients. Likewise cancer patients’ family caregivers were more aware of what exactly bone marrow transplantation is, and how to donate bone marrow.
Conclusions
Several studies showed that those who have been informed about BMT, and National marrow donation program were significantly more willing to donate bone marrow. This is important since in many cases lack of encouragement and insufficient information discourage a person from bone marrow donation.
Clinical trial identification
Legal entity responsible for the study
Gulcan Bagcivan.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Editorial Acknowledgement
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.