Contributing factors for the willingness to donate organs in the Hispanic American population

Abstract

Objective: To identify factors that contribute to intent to donate organs in Hispanic American individuals.

Design: Cross-sectional telephone surveys.

Setting: Four southern California neighborhoods with a high percentage of Hispanic American individuals.

Patients: Respondents 18 years or older were drawn randomly from lists of Hispanic surnames.

Main outcome measures: Telephone surveys were conducted that measured demographic and socioeconomic factors, cultural factors, awareness and knowledge, and perception and belief regarding organ donation, as well as the intent to become an organ donor. Logistic regression was performed to identify independent contributing factors to intent to register for organ donation.

Results: Five hundred twenty-four telephone surveys were conducted over a 3-week period. Seventy-three percent of those surveyed were between the ages of 18 and 44 years and the sample was equally divided between men and women. The following independent risk factors contributed to intent to register: low acculturation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.62; P < .001), religion (AOR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.17-0.60; P < .001), perception that the wealthy are more likely to receive organs (AOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.25-0.65; P = .001), belief that donation disfigures the body and impacts the funeral (AOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22-0.89; P = .02), and family influence (AOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.28-3.22; P = .004).

Conclusions: Among Hispanic American individuals, low acculturation, religion, belief, and family influence affect the intent to register for organ donation. To improve organ donation, these risk factors should be considered using specific, effective educational programs.