Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Boulware, L. E.
• Troll, M. U.
• Wang, N.‐Y.
• Powe, N. R.

Titel

Perceived Transparency and Fairness of the Organ Allocation System and Willingness to Donate Organs: A National Study

Ist Teil von

• American journal of transplantation, 2007-07, Vol.7 (7), p.1778-1787

Ort / Verlag

Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2007

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The influence of perceptions of organ allocation on willingness to donate organs is unclear. We performed a national study assessing the relation of public perceptions of organ allocation to willingness to donate organs, and we assessed the contribution of beliefs regarding discrimination in health care to observed associations. Among 845 participants, a majority (65%) reported that they less than "mostly" understand allocation, and most (71%) reported that they believe allocation is "unfair" or are "unsure" of its fairness. Participants reporting less understanding were less willing to donate (56%) than persons reporting greater understanding (67%) (p < 0.01). Participants believing allocation is "unfair" or who are "unsure" about fairness were less willing to donate (54%) than persons believing allocation is "fair" (68%) (p < 0.01). Associations were stronger among certain demographic subgroups. Participants with the least favorable perceptions of allocation were more likely than their counterparts to believe that race and income discrimination occur in transplantation and to believe that they personally experienced income discrimination in health care. Adjustment for these beliefs partially attenuated associations between perceptions regarding allocation and willingness to donate. Interventions enhancing transparency and perceived fairness of organ allocation may improve willingness to donate, particularly if they address concerns regarding discrimination in transplantation and health care. In a national study of the relationship between public perceptions of organ allocation and willingness to donate organs, subjects expressing less understanding or perceiving unfairness were less likely to support donation.