title: Eye donation - awareness and willingness among attendants of patients at various clinics in Melaka, Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Corneal blindness accounts for 3.42% of blindness in Malaysia; the rate of eye donation is low. The aim of the study was to assess the awareness about eye donation and willingness to donate eyes among attendants of patients at various clinics in Melaka, Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational study was conducted on attendants who accompanied patients (n = 400) visiting various outpatient departments of the General Hospital and two peripheral clinics in Melaka between August and October 2007. The participants answered a questionnaire (Malay and English versions) which included demographic profile, awareness of eye donation, knowledge regarding facts of eye donation, and willingness to donate eyes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed at 5% level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Awareness of eye donation was observed in 276 (69%) participants. Multivariate analysis showed that awareness was more among females when compared to males (P = 0.009). Of the 276 participants who were aware of eye donation, only 34.42% were willing to donate eyes. Willingness was more among the Indian race (P = 0.02) and males (P = 0.02). Educational status did not influence the willingness to donate eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although majority of participants were aware of eye donation, willingness to donate eyes was poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India. sulatha_bhandary@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Sulatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhandary
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Krishna A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Lavanya G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Kamala D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lingam
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Binu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005123:Eye; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult