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Correlates of support for organ donation among three ethnic groups
Author(s) -
McNamara Patrick,
Guadagnoli Edward,
Evanisko Michael J,
Beasley Carol,
SantiagoDelpin Eduardo A,
Callender Clive O,
Christiansen Elaine
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-0012.1999.t01-2-130107.x
Subject(s) - medicine , organ donation , ethnic group , donation , disfigurement , logistic regression , telephone survey , family medicine , demography , gerontology , surgery , transplantation , advertising , business , sociology , anthropology , economics , economic growth
Telephone interviews about organ donation were conducted with 4880 white respondents, 634 African–American respondents and 566 Hispanic respondents. Forty‐three percent (42.9%) of whites, 31.2% of Hispanics and 22.6% of African–Americans reported that they were willing to donate their organs after their death (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed three significant correlates of willingness to donate across all ethnic groups: having had a family discussion about end‐of‐life issues; the belief that a doctor does all he or she can to save a life before pursuing donation; and concerns about surgical ‘disfigurement’ of a relative’s body after donation. Concerns in relation to body disfigurement were more prevalent among African–American and Hispanic respondents (p<0.001) than among white respondents. Public education should: a) stress the need for family communication about end‐of‐life issues including organ donation; b) underline the fact that donation is considered only after all efforts to save the life of the patient are exhausted; and c) reassure minorities that the body of the donor is treated respectfully and not disfigured.