title: Attitudes and beliefs about deceased organ donation in the Arabic-speaking community in Australia: a focus group study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the beliefs and attitudes to organ donation in the Arabic-speaking community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arabic-speaking participants were purposively recruited to participate in 6 focus groups. Transcripts were analysed thematically.
  
  
  METHODS
  53 participants, aged 19-77 years, and originating from 8 countries, participated in 1 of 6 focus groups. Participants identified as Christian (73%), Islam (26%), Buddhist (2%) or did not identify with any religion (2%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  6 themes (with subthemes) were identified; religious conviction; invisibility of organ donation; medical suspicion; owning the decision; and reciprocal benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although organ donation is considered a generous life-saving 'gift', representative members of the Arabic-speaking community in Australia were unfamiliar with, unnerved by and sceptical about the donation process. Making positive decisions about organ donation would likely require resolving tensions between respecting family, community and religious values versus their individual autonomy. Providing targeted education about the process and benefits of organ donation within the Arabic community may clarify ambiguities surrounding cultural and religious-based views on organ donation, reduce taboos and suspicion towards donation, and in turn, lead to increased organ donation rates.
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Angelique F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ralph
authors.affiliation: Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia Transplantation Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alyami
authors.affiliation: Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia Transplantation Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard D M
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Choice, University of South Australia, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia Transplantation Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Steve J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chadban
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001315:Australia; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions; D005195:Family Relations; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: PUBLIC HEALTH; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; TRANSPLANT MEDICINE