title: Attitudes and Knowledge Concerning Corneal Donation in a Population-Based Sample of Urban Chinese Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To better understand knowledge and attitudes concerning corneal donation among Chinese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomly selected residents in predetermined age strata 20 to 60+ years completed home-based questionnaires in each of 12 randomly chosen communities in Guangzhou, southern China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1217 selected persons, 430 (35.3%) completed the questionnaires (mean age 40.4 yrs, 57.9% female). Refusers were older (44.8 yrs, P < 0.001), but sex did not differ (52.2% female, P = 0.07). Among participants, 175 (40.7%) were willing to donate their corneas (WTD). Differences between WTD and not WTD included donation knowledge score (range, 1-12) [WTD (SD) 6.91 ± 2.21, not WTD 5.62 ± 2.43, P < 0.001]; having discussed donation (WTD 26.3%, not WTD 8.63%, P < 0.001); viewing donation as unpopular (WTD 88.0%, not WTD 96.5%, P = 0.001); and feeling donation "damages the body" (WTD 15.4%, not WTD 25.7%, P = 0.013). Associated significantly with WTD in multiple regression models were higher knowledge score [odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.32, P = 0.008]; not feeling donation "damages the body" (OR = 1.91, 95% CI, 1.07-3.43, P = 0.030); and willingness to discuss donation (OR = 10.6, 95% CI, 3.35-33.9, P < 0.001). WTD did not differ by age (>60 yrs: 22/51, 43.1%; ≤60 yrs: 153/379, 40.4%, P = 0.706). Assuming all those refusing the survey would not donate, 14.4% (175/1217) were WTD for themselves, though only 7.1% (86/1217) would do so on behalf of a family member if they did not know the deceased's preference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to increase knowledge and promote discussions about donation, and policies allowing widespread expression of donation preference, are needed in this setting.
authors.affiliation: *State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Division of Preventive Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; †Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China; ‡SightLife, Seattle, WA; §Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China; ‖Orbis International, New York, NY; and ¶Translational Research for Equitable Eyecare, Center for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Xiuqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jiawei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Elizabeth Haid
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schottman
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Congyao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Congdon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003315:Cornea; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005125:Eye Banks; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult