Abstract: In recent years, organ donation and transplantation have entered a stage of steady development in China. Nevertheless, the shortage of transplant organs and the contradiction between supply and demand of organs are still the bottlenecks to achieve the strategy of "self-sufficiency in organ transplantation" advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The key reasons for donor loss described in the "critical pathway of organ donation" defined by the WHO include the identification and referral of potential donors and the maintenance and repair of organs. Smooth development, high efficiency and high-quality development of organ donation cannot be achieved without the support of intensive care medicine, which are highly associated with the cognition, recognition and participation of intensive care unit(ICU) staff. In this article, research progress in ICU staff’s cognition, attitude and willingness for organ donation were reviewed and relevant influencing factors were discussed, aiming to offer targeted suggestions on how to resolve these difficulties.