Assessment of Organ Donation Intention Among Employees Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior: Application of Structural Equation Modeling

Background: Organ transplantation is one of the options to increase the life expectancy and quality of life (QOL) of patients waiting on the organ transplant list. The lack of body parts for transplants remains a worldwide concern. This study was designed and implemented to assess organ donation intention among the staff of government and non-government offices in Qom based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods: Using stratified random sampling, this cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted on ۴۴۰ employees in Qom, Iran, in ۲۰۲۲. The data collection instrument was a researcher-designed questionnaire, including demographic characteristics, possession of an organ donation card or blood donation history, and constructs of the TPB. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression analysis, and structural equation modeling. Results: The mean±standard deviation age of participants was ۳۸.۲۱±۳.۶. The results showed that ۲۹.۲% of participants (n=۱۱۶) had a signed blood donation card, and ۱۰۷ participants (۲۷%) had a blood donation history. The structural model fits the data well [χ۲ /df=۲.۸۴, P<۰.۰۰۱), CFI=۰.۹۱۶, GFI=۰.۹۰۲, RMSEA=۰.۰۵۳]. The TPB constructs could predict ۷۵% of the variance of the behavioral intention (P<۰.۰۰۱). Finally, no statistically significant relationship was found between knowledge and intention to donate organs (β=۰.۰۰۳, P=۰.۹۳). Conclusion: The result of the regression analysis of the relationship between TPB variables and organ donation intention indicated that perceived behavioral control (PBC) had a great influence on the organ donation intention of government and non-government employees.