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Testing the utility of a modified organ donation model among African American adults
Dana H Z Robinson1, Jennie P Perryman, Nancy J Thompson
1Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd, Rm 521, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. dhrobin@emory.edu
Insights
Religious beliefs significantly influence African American organ donation decisions, with knowledge also playing a direct role. Understanding these factors is crucial for improving organ donation education efforts for this population.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Public Health
- Transplantation Science
Background:
- African Americans face disproportionately higher rates of health conditions necessitating organ transplants.
- Organ and tissue donation rates are lower within the African American community, leading to longer wait times for transplants.
- Multiple factors contribute to reluctance regarding organ donation among African Americans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of knowledge, trust, and religious beliefs on organ donation decision-making among African Americans.
- To adapt the Organ Donation Model for the African American population.
- To identify key factors for effective organ donation education.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an adaptation of the Organ Donation Model.
- Employed bivariate and path analyses to examine relationships between variables.
- Focused on knowledge, trust in the donation/allocation process, and religious beliefs.
Main Results:
- Alignment with religious beliefs was the strongest predictor of attitudes toward organ donation.
- Positive attitudes towards donation were significantly associated with donation intentions.
- Knowledge was directly linked to intentions to become a deceased organ donor.
Conclusions:
- Religious beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge are significant factors in African American organ donation decisions.
- The findings underscore the importance of these variables in developing targeted educational strategies.
- This research provides a new direction for enhancing organ donation education for African Americans.
Abstract:
African Americans are overrepresented on the organ transplant waiting list because they are disproportionately impacted by certain health conditions that potentially warrant a life-saving transplant. While the African American need for transplantation is considerably high, organ and tissue donation rates are comparatively low, resulting in African Americans spending more than twice the amount of time on the national transplant waiting list as compared to people of other racial/ethnic backgrounds. There are a multitude of factors that contribute to the reluctance expressed by African Americans with respect to organ donation. This study proposes the use of an adaptation of the Organ Donation Model to explore the ways in which knowledge, trust in the donation/allocation process, and religious beliefs impact African American donation decision making. Bivariate and path analyses demonstrated that alignment with religious beliefs was the greatest driving factor with respect to attitudes towards donation; attitudes were significantly associated with donation intentions; and knowledge is directly associated with intentions to serve as a potential deceased organ donor. The significance of these variables speaks to the importance of their inclusion in a model that focuses on the African American population and offers new direction for more effective donation education efforts.
