OBJECTIVES: As the deceased-donor organ shortage has become a common problem, we sought to investigate the attitudes of people in Izmir, Turkey, concerning corneal donation and transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire designed to collect demographic data and determine attitudes concerning corneal donation and transplant, based on 9 questions, was prepared and administered to 1000 people that presented to our outpatient clinics in 2009. RESULTS: Among the respondents, 54.7% were willing to donate their corneas, while 84.3% were willing to receive corneas, and 15.4% were opposed corneal transplant. Attitudes toward corneal donation were significantly more positive in those with more education than in those with less education. Among participants, the ratio of a positive attitude toward donation significantly increased with decreasing age (P < .001), with a maximum of 66.7% among participants aged 18-24 years and 46.2% among those aged > 65 years. The positive attitude increased with increasing level of education. The donor parameters reported to be of the most importance were religion, nationality, country, ethnicity, and sex (31.3%, 25.1%, 23.5%, 22.8%, and 20.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The primary factor associated with negative attitudes toward organ/tissue donation and receipt is low education. This result suggests that educating and motivating the public might help increase the rate of consent for organ and tissue donation and transplant.
OBJECTIVES: As the deceased-donor organ shortage has become a common problem, we sought to investigate the attitudes of people in Izmir, Turkey, concerning corneal donation and transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire designed to collect demographic data and determine attitudes concerning corneal donation and transplant, based on 9 questions, was prepared and administered to 1000 people that presented to our outpatient clinics in 2009. RESULTS: Among the respondents, 54.7% were willing to donate their corneas, while 84.3% were willing to receive corneas, and 15.4% were opposed corneal transplant. Attitudes toward corneal donation were significantly more positive in those with more education than in those with less education. Among participants, the ratio of a positive attitude toward donation significantly increased with decreasing age (P < .001), with a maximum of 66.7% among participants aged 18-24 years and 46.2% among those aged > 65 years. The positive attitude increased with increasing level of education. The donor parameters reported to be of the most importance were religion, nationality, country, ethnicity, and sex (31.3%, 25.1%, 23.5%, 22.8%, and 20.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The primary factor associated with negative attitudes toward organ/tissue donation and receipt is low education. This result suggests that educating and motivating the public might help increase the rate of consent for organ and tissue donation and transplant.
Authors: Latifa F Alanazi; Shaikha H Aldossari; Mohammed A Gogandy; Ghazai A Althubaiti; Beshayer F Alanazi; Abdullah M Alfawaz Journal: Saudi J Ophthalmol Date: 2019-02-26