Factors associated with positive attitudes toward organ donation in Arab Americans. Clin Transplant 2011;25(5):800-8
Date
12/24/2010Pubmed ID
21175847DOI
10.1111/j.1399-0012.2010.01382.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-79954457604 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 41 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: The demand for transplantable organ continues to exceed supply, particularly in minority patient populations. We explored the factors influencing organ donation attitude within the Arab American community.
METHODS: Secondary data analysis from a face-to-face survey administered in late 2003 to 1016 adults from a representative population-based sample on Greater Detroit Arab Americans.
RESULTS: Christian Arab Americans were more likely than Muslim Arab Americans, and women more than men, to believe organ donation after death was justifiable. Higher educational attainment and income, as well as greater acculturation into American society, were associated with greater odds of believing organ donation to be justified. Self-reported health status and level of psychological distress and health insurance status were not associated with beliefs about organ donation.
CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted approach toward increasing organ donation rates in this growing population requires targeted community-health care system collaborations involving religious and civic leaders using Arabic language and culturally sensitive media.
SUMMARY: Arab Americans represent a growing population about which little is known in regard to organ donation and transplantation. This population is not specifically captured within national and local transplantation databases, and little empiric work has assessed attitudes and barriers toward organ donation and transplantation within this community. Our work represents the first to use a representative population-based sample to explore the modifiable and non-modifiable characteristics of those who believe cadaveric organ donation to be justified.
Author List
Padela AI, Rasheed S, Warren GJ, Choi H, Mathur AKAuthor
Aasim Padela MD Vice Chair, Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AcculturationAdolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arabs
Attitude to Health
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Minority Groups
Prognosis
Tissue Donors
Tissue and Organ Procurement
Young Adult
