title: Shifting towards an opt-out system in Greece: a general practice based pilot study.
abstract: New legislation in Greece towards presumed consent for organ donation, effective as of June 2013, has come at a critical moment. This pilot study aims to explore awareness, specific concerns and intentions about the new organ donation framework among patients attending Greek general practices in a rural and urban setting. Only 2.6% of respondents had a donor card, a mere 9.6% was aware of new legislation, whereas only 3.8% considered that the public had been adequately informed. Higher income respondents were more likely to be aware that they would be considered organ donors upon death, unless declared differently. Urban practice respondents were less likely to have previously discussed with a significant other their intentions in regards to presumed consent. One quarter of all respondents (22.4%) intended to carry out their right to prohibit organ removal upon death. Survey results reveal that organ donation reform has yet to be disseminated by the Greek society, underscoring the urgency for targeted information campaigns.
authors.affiliation: 1. Private Family Practice Unit in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanouil K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Symvoulakis
authors.forename: Adelais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markaki
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galanakis
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klinis
authors.forename: Myfanwy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014019:Tissue Donors
keywords: Greece; general practice; opt-out; organ donation; presumed consent
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