Comments/Brief Reports
Vol. 43 No. 3 (2026)
https://doi.org/10.4081/scenario.2026.700

Knowledge and perceptions of donation after circulatory death among nurses: a multicentre survey in Northern Italy

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Published: 28 September 2026
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Tissue and organ procurement, organ donation, transplantation, nurses, knowledge, education, nursing

Authors

Lorenzo Righi
lorenzo.righi@unisi.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4638-118X
Responsible Nurse for Monitoring Nursing Outcomes, USL Toscana Sud Est, Siena; Vice President, OPI Siena, Siena; Adjunct Lecturer, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Vittorio Uggè
Operating Room Nurse, A.S.S.T. of Crema – Ospedale Maggiore, A.T.S. Val Padana, Italy.
Alessio Caratelli
Nurse, Cardiac Surgery Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese (AOUS), Siena, Italy.
Giulia Martinenghi
Nurse, Coronary Care Unit (CCU), I.R.C.C.S. Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Milan, Italy.
Moris Rosati
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4332-5077
Nurse Coordinator, Cardiology and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese (AOU), Siena, Italy.
Christian Ramacciani Isemann
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8253-1056
Nurse Coordinator, Operating Theatre, Val di Chiana United Hospitals, USL Toscana Sud Est Health Authority, Italy.

Introduction: Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) has become an increasingly important strategy for expanding the donor pool and addressing the persistent shortage of organs available for transplantation. Nurses play a key role throughout the donation process; however, evidence regarding their knowledge of DCD in Italian healthcare settings remains limited.


Materials and Methods: a multicentre cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and July 2024 among registered nurses working in three hospitals in Northern Italy. An adapted version of a previously published questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and perceptions regarding DCD. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results: a total of 113 nurses participated in the study. Nearly two-thirds (64.6%) reported previous exposure to organ or tissue donation pathways, whereas only 20.4% had received specific education on DCD. Most participants recognised that tissue donation (92.0%) and solid organ donation (79.6%) may be possible following circulatory arrest. However, important knowledge gaps emerged regarding death determination criteria (41.6%), donor classification systems (16.8%), and the implications of the no-touch period (17.7%).

Conclusions: nurses demonstrated general awareness of DCD but limited knowledge in several procedure-specific areas. Structured educational initiatives addressing both technical and ethical aspects of DCD may improve preparedness and support the implemen- tation of DCD programmes in clinical practice.

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How to Cite



Knowledge and perceptions of donation after circulatory death among nurses: a multicentre survey in Northern Italy. (2026). Scenario® - Il Nursing Nella Sopravvivenza, 43(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/scenario.2026.700
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