Are organ donation attitudes and beliefs, empathy, and life orientation related to donor registration status?
BACKGROUND
The severe organ donor shortage necessitates additional research on variables that may distinguish those who register to be organ donors and those who do not. Such research has important implications for the development of educational interventions.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether registered organ donors differ significantly from nondonors on measures of organ donation beliefs and attitudes, empathy, and life orientation.


METHODS
Prospective participants were approached about the study while visiting a local branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Once consent was obtained, participants completed several questionnaires.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty community dwellers who visited the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Alachua County, Fla.


METHODS
Organ donor registration status, beliefs about organ donation, attitudes toward organ donation, empathy, and life orientation (ie, optimism).


RESULTS
Registered organ donors reported more positive beliefs toward organ donation than did nonregistered participants or participants who were undecided about their registration status. Registered organ donors also reported more positive organ donation attitudes and more optimism than did nonregistered participants.
Rodrigue
James R
JR
University of Florida Health Science Center, Gainesville, Fla, USA.
Cornell
Danielle L
DL
Jackson
Shannon I
SI
Kanasky
William
W
Marhefka
Stephanie
S
Reed
Alan I
AI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000533:Altruism; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009949:Orientation; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement