Attitude, Intention and Acceptance of Corneal Donation and Transplantation among Palliative Care Patients in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Corneal donation and transplantation can restore vision and improve quality of life for individuals with corneal blindness. However, attitudes and willingness to donate do not necessarily translate into a specific intention or acceptance of donation. Evidence on these dimensions of corneal donation among palliative care patients in Nigeria is limited. Aim: This study assessed attitudes, intention to donate, and acceptance of corneal donation and transplantation among palliative care patients attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the palliative care unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria, over a period of four weeks, between December 12, 2025 and January 20, 2026. Methodology: This study involved 119 palliative care patients, aged 18 years or older. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies and analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Most respondents (67.2%) had unfavourable attitudes towards corneal donation and transplantation, while 78.2% had low intention to donate their corneas after death. Only 26.9% accepted corneal donation and transplantation. Attitude was not significantly associated with acceptance (COR = 1.929, p = 0.125), whereas high intention was significantly associated with acceptance of corneal donation (COR = 4.861, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Palliative care patients attending LUTH demonstrated predominantly unfavourable attitudes, low intention to donate, and low acceptance of corneal donation and transplantation. The findings suggest that acceptance may be influenced not only by general attitudes towards donation but also by the individual’s intention to donate, within the sensitive context of palliative and end-of-life care. Interventions should therefore provide sensitive and ethically appropriate opportunities for patients to consider corneal donation in relation to their individual circumstances and end-of-life preferences.