title: Attitude toward living donor liver transplantation in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes and characteristics of donors for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was performed by a mailing or by telephone using a questionnaire. LDLT donors were recruited from a teaching hospitals located in a metropolitan area of northern Taiwan. The 11-item attitude questionnaire was specifically developed from the literature review with coordinator, physician, and donor feedback. Donors were asked to rate the queries on a 5-point Likert intensity scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 47 LDLT donors included 28 (60%) women and 19 (40%) men. Most of the LDLT donors were aged less than 30 years old (n = 24, 51%) with (n = 12, 26%) between 31 and 40 years, and 11 (23%) more than 41 years. Self-perceived health status was poor (n = 4, 9%), not bad (n = 22, 47%), good (n = 19, 40%), or very good (n = 2, 4%). The top five LDLT donor attitudes were recognition of liver donation (n = 42, 89%), recognition of brain donation (n = 41, 88%), a hero (n = 35, 75%), honor to be a donor (n = 35, 5%), and improved relationship with recipient after donation (n = 33, 70%). The best person to suggest organ donation to a family was ranked as the doctors related to transplantation (n = 41, 88%), transplantation nurse coordinator (n = 40, 85%), social worker (n = 23, 49%), and doctor unrelated to transplantation (n = 17, 17%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed positive attitudes toward donation. Some data afford insight to the decision-making procedure. Donor concerns may help professionals provide better interventions in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S-C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H-T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: S-L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014019:Tissue Donors