title: Public opinion concerning corneal donation and transplant: a survey from Izmir, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the deceased-donor organ shortage has become a common problem, we sought to investigate the attitudes of people in Izmir, Turkey, concerning corneal donation and transplant.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire designed to collect demographic data and determine attitudes concerning corneal donation and transplant, based on 9 questions, was prepared and administered to 1000 people that presented to our outpatient clinics in 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the respondents, 54.7% were willing to donate their corneas, while 84.3% were willing to receive corneas, and 15.4% were opposed corneal transplant. Attitudes toward corneal donation were significantly more positive in those with more education than in those with less education. Among participants, the ratio of a positive attitude toward donation significantly increased with decreasing age (P < .001), with a maximum of 66.7% among participants aged 18-24 years and 46.2% among those aged > 65 years. The positive attitude increased with increasing level of education. The donor parameters reported to be of the most importance were religion, nationality, country, ethnicity, and sex (31.3%, 25.1%, 23.5%, 22.8%, and 20.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The primary factor associated with negative attitudes toward organ/tissue donation and receipt is low education. This result suggests that educating and motivating the public might help increase the rate of consent for organ and tissue donation and transplant.
authors: Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir, Turkey. melispalamar@hotmail.com
authors: Melis
authors: M
authors: Palamar
authors: Melis
authors: M
authors: Palamar Onay
authors: Raika
authors: R
authors: Durusoy
authors: Sait
authors: S
authors: Egrilmez
authors: Oguzhan
authors: O
authors: Salis
authors: Ayse
authors: A
authors: Yagci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult