title: Attitudes Concerning Postmortem Organ Donation: A Multicenter Survey in Various German Cohorts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to characterize postmortem organ donation attitudes in various German cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Employees of 2 German cities and 2 German university hospitals, employees of a German automobile enterprise, and members of a German Medical Society were administered a questionnaire about postmortem organ and tissue donation attitudes. Demographic data and general attitudes were questioned and focused on: I) willingness to donate organs, II) holding a donor card, and III) having discussed the topic with the family.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5291 participants, 65.2% reported favoring postmortem organ donation. Missing negative experiences, the idea that donation is helpful, a non-medical professional environment, excellent general health, gender, agreement with the brain-death paradigm, and age significantly influenced the participants' attitudes. Participants were more likely to possess donor cards and had discussed more often with family members if they agreed with the brain-death paradigm and considered donation to be helpful. Males and older participants were the most likely to neglect donor cards, and Catholics, Protestants, and participants with poor health were the least likely to donate organs. Interest in receiving more information was expressed by 38.1% and 50.6% of participants refusing donation of all or of specific organs, respectively, and suggested the internet (60.0%) and family doctors (35.0%) as preferred sources of information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public campaigns in Germany should focus on males and older people as regards donor cards, and females, younger, and religiously affiliated persons as regards the general willingness to donate organs postmortem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinics, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Constantin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Uhlig
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Center, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Böhringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psycholinguistic and Neurosciences, University Clinics, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hirschfeld
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation, University Clinics, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement