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Racial disparities in preferences and perceptions regarding organ donation

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify reasons for lower organ donation rates by African Americans, we examined knowledge and attitudes about brain death, donation, and transplantation and trust in the health care system.

METHODS: Data were collected from 1,283 subjects in Ohio using a random digit dial telephone survey. Items were developed based on focus group results. Willingness-to-donate indicators included a signed donor card and willingness to donate one’s own and a loved one’s organs.

RESULTS: Compared with whites, African-Americans had lower rates of signing a donor card (39.1% vs 64.9%,P<.001), and willingness to donate their own organs (72.6% vs 88.3%,P<.001) or a loved one’s organs (53.0% vs 66.2%,P<.001). African Americans had lower scores on the Trust in the Health Care System scale (mean scores ± SD, 9.43 ± 3.05 vs 9.93 ± 2.88,P<.01) and were more likely to agree that “if doctors know I am an organ donor, they won’t try to save my life” (38.6% vs 25.9%,P<.001), the rich or famous are more likely to get a transplant (81.9% vs 75.7%,P<.05), and less likely to agree that doctors can be trusted to pronounce death (68.2% vs 82.9,P<.001). African Americans were also more likely to agree that families should receive money for donating organs (45.6% vs 28.0%,P<.001) and funeral expenses (63.1% vs 46.6%,P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: African Americans reported greater mistrust in the equity of the donation system and were more favorable about providing tangible benefits to donor families than white respondents.

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Correspondence to Laura A. Siminoff PhD.

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None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.

This project was funded by a grant R01-HS10047 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Dr. Ibrahim is a recipient of a career development award from the VA Health Services Research and Development Office and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Harold Amos Faculty Development Award.

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Siminoff, L.A., Burant, C.J. & Ibrahim, S.A. Racial disparities in preferences and perceptions regarding organ donation. J GEN INTERN MED 21, 995–1000 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02743151

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