Premium
PERCEPTION OF BODY DONATION AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS
Author(s) -
Werede Ayoda,
Thompson Brent
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.733.3
Subject(s) - donation , psychological intervention , demographics , perception , organ donation , diversity (politics) , medicine , marital status , psychology , family medicine , gerontology , demography , nursing , population , sociology , political science , transplantation , environmental health , surgery , neuroscience , anthropology , law
The use of cadavers for anatomical studies has long been an important component of medical education. To supply the needed cadavers, most medical schools rely on people donating their bodies upon death. Very few studies examining the demographics of body donors exist and they indicate that the majority of donors tend to be Caucasian males, leading to a lack of racial diversity among cadavers in the anatomy lab. The goal of this study is to understand why minorities, more specifically African Americans, do not participate in whole body donation programs. Understanding factors or obstacles that play a role in influencing willingness to partake in body donation may aid in developing interventions that facilitate involvement amongst this demographic. METHODS Ongoing studies are examining attitudes, knowledge and cultural beliefs that may influence willingness of African Americans to participate in whole body donation programs. Ten focus groups, each consisting of 5 to 7 people, will be conducted at local Optimist Clubs in the Metro Detroit Area. At each meeting, demographic data regarding gender, age group, education level, income level, marital status, and number of dependents will be gathered prior to researcher‐led discussions on views about body donation. ANTICIPATED RESULTS We hypothesize that the low participation rates of African Americans in whole body donation programs are due a combination of factors including a mistrust of the medical profession, lack of awareness of donation programs, and religious or cultural beliefs surrounding death and the disposition of the body. CONCLUSION The results are expected to help us understand African American beliefs surrounding whole body donation. Support or Funding Information Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine