Understanding the relationship between knowledge and African Americans' donation decision-making.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between different types of knowledge related to donation and transplantation and the expression of donation intentions via one's driver's license, a donor card, or sharing one's wishes with family.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were gathered via self-administered questionnaire from 425 Black adults, age 18 years and older who were recruited from nine churches in a large metropolitan area in the southeast United States.


RESULTS
Results indicate that knowledge of the allocation system and experiential knowledge of a transplant recipient are associated with donation intentions after controlling for age, gender, and highest level of education. However, the following types of knowledge were unrelated to donation intentions: donation-related statistics (including an understanding of African Americans' overrepresentation among those in need), the donation process, the process for determining medical suitability, and religious institutions' support for donation.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that the relationship between donation-related knowledge and donation intentions is complex and may depend on the specific type of knowledge being measured.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of the allocation system and experiential knowledge of a recipient may be critical aspects of the donation decision-making process. Research findings suggest the need for an educational approach that seeks to improve the specific types of knowledge that are most strongly associated with donation intentions.
Jacob Arriola
Kimberly R
KR
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. kjacoba@sph.emory.edu
Robinson
Dana H Z
DH
Perryman
Jennie P
JP
Thompson
Nancy
N
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002835:Christianity / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000458:organization & administration; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D040841:Resource Allocation / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000458:organization & administration*