title: Factors associated with (un)willingness to be an organ donor: importance of public exposure and knowledge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transplantation is increasingly limited by the supply of donor organs. Identifying subgroups that do not support organ donation will allow targeted efforts to increase organ donation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 185 non-acutely ill outpatients visiting a community physician's office voluntarily completed a survey designed to capture views and general knowledge/misconceptions about cadaveric organ donation/transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 185 patients, 86 were willing to donate, 42 were unwilling, and 57 were unsure. Willingness to donate was significantly associated with: having discussed the topic with family; having known a cadaveric organ donor; age 55 yr; having graduated high school; recognizing the organ shortage as the primary problem in transplantation; having received a post-high school degree; having seen public information within 30 d; and having a family member in health care (all p</=0.05). Not significant were: gender; race; religious affiliation or regular church attendance; knowing a transplant recipient or wait-listed patient; and having easy internet access. Those unwilling/unsure more often thought: organ allocation is based on race/income; organ donation is expensive for the donor family; designated donors may not receive full emergency room care; a brain-dead person can recover.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intense efforts to improve public awareness and knowledge about organ donation/transplantation are necessary to maximize donation and the overall success of transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: Silke V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Haustein
authors.forename: Marty T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sellers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement