title: Knowledge and attitude of donor cardholders toward organ and tissue donation and transplantation in an Iranian tissue bank: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cadaveric organ shortage is the most important obstacle to more widespread provision of transplants. Many factors influence the donation rate: social factors, religion, familial relations, and especially knowledge and attitudes toward organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Increasing public awareness can reform the incorrect beliefs and myths about donation and transplantation. This study investigated knowledge and attitudes of donor cardholders toward organ and tissue donation as well as transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was performed in 2006 among 178 donor cardholders and the same number of a control group who completed a questionnaire including 23 questions and demographic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge and attitude among the cardholder was significantly greater than the control group (P < .05). We observed a inverse correlation between age and a positive attitude toward donation and transplantation among cardholders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggested that the main reasons for refusal to donate organ and tissue were insufficient knowledge and negative attitudes due to misinformation regarding donation and transplantation. We believe that educating and motivating the public via the mass media can increase the rate of consent for organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iranian Tissue Bank Research and Preparation Center & Brain and Spinal Injury Repair Research Center & Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Tehran, Iran. arjmand_itb@yahoo.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arjmand
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Aghayan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.forename: S H E
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafarian
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larijani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khalooghi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Charmchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arjmand
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014180:Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*