Organizations end myths about organ donation
Organizations end myths about organ donation
Donor Alliance, a Denver-based federally designated non-profit organ procurement organization, and American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB), a McLean, VA-based accredited tissue bank, have announced results from an initiative designed to study the public's perception of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
The two-part survey aimed to increase knowledge and overall awareness about reasons people don't register to be organ, eye, and tissue donors in the state. The study results were released as part of National Donate Life Month, which honors the generosity of organ, eye, and tissue donors and their families and commemorates all transplant recipients in the United States.
Results showed that targeted education and awareness-building activities led to increased registration of organ, eye, and tissue donors by 4% overall. The survey also showed that many people continue to believe myths surrounding organ, eye, and tissue donation.
"This research gave us valuable data about the public's perception of organ, eye and tissue donation that we can use to refine our public outreach programs and continue to encourage higher rates of donor designation," said Sue Dunn, MBA, president and CEO of Donor Alliance.
Two surveys were conducted independently by Corona Insights and issued to separate households in the targeted areas over a seven-month period. Key findings included:
- Donor registration increased by 4% overall.
- Overall, 5% more residents shared their donation wishes with their families following the campaign.
- Myths about donation still persist. Forty-five percent of respondents do not know if their religion supports donation, 32% do not know if they can be a donor in spite of existing health conditions, and 21% don't know if being a donor would cost their family money.
- There are changes in reasons for not becoming donors. Prior to the community campaign, age and health were the primary reasons cited for choosing not to be a donor (42%), followed closely by respondents stating they hadn't considered the topic (36%). In the post-survey, respondents citing age and health reasons dropped (32%), and respondents claiming not to have thought about becoming donors dropped as well, but became the most cited reason (35%).
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.