Attitudes toward postmortem cornea donation in Germany: a multicenter survey

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Postmortem cornea donation is crucial for restoring sight.
• Understanding public willingness is key to improving donation rates.
• Previous studies have explored donation attitudes, but specific factors in Germany require analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the willingness for postmortem cornea donation among various population groups in Germany.
• To identify demographic, attitudinal, and informational factors influencing cornea donation decisions.
• To inform public health strategies aimed at increasing cornea donation.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was administered to employees in university hospitals, ophthalmological societies, and a general company in two German cities.
• The survey included demographic data, motivations, general attitudes toward donation, and perceived information needs.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with willingness to donate corneas postmortem.

Main Results:

• A significant majority expressed willingness to donate corneas postmortem (ranging from 67.7% to 79.4% across groups).
• Negative attitudes were associated with younger age, poorer general health, belief in eternal life, disagreement with brain death diagnostics, and fears of receiving worse medical treatment or organ commercialization.
• Over half of participants desired more information, with the internet identified as the preferred source.

Conclusions:

• Emotional and psychological factors significantly influence willingness for postmortem cornea donation.
• Public education initiatives, particularly utilizing online platforms, can effectively address concerns and enhance donation intentions.
• The study highlights a need to re-evaluate donation willingness among medical staff, as findings contrast with prior observations in ophthalmological societies.