German citizens in southeastern Spain: a study of attitude toward organ donation

• Published in: Clinical transplantation 2010-05, Vol.24 (3), p.349-357
• Main Authors: Ríos, A., Martínez-Alarcón, L., Sánchez, J., Jarvis, N., Parrilla, P., Ramírez, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; attitude; Attitude - ethnology; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical death. Palliative care. Organ gift and preservation; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data; Emigration and Immigration; European Continental Ancestry Group - ethnology; European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Germans; Germany - ethnology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; organ donation; Organ Transplantation - psychology; population; psychosocial factors; Public Opinion; Spain; Spain - epidemiology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tissue Donors - psychology; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0902-0063; 1399-0012
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2009.01079.x

Ríos A, Martínez‐Alarcón L, Sánchez J, Jarvis N, Parrilla P, Ramírez P. German citizens in southeastern Spain: a study of attitude toward organ donation.
Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 349–357. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S : Background:  Spain is frequently a place of residence for a high percentage of the German population. Our aim is to analyze the attitude of the German population that is resident in Spain toward organ donation. Methods:  A sample of German residents in the south east of Spain was obtained randomly between November 2005 and April 2006 (n = 227). Attitude was evaluated using a validated questionnaire. This survey was self‐administered and completed anonymously. Control group: a sample of 2000 Spanish citizens. Results:  There is a favorable attitude toward donation in 64% of respondents, similar to the control group (64% vs. 63%; p = 0.8545). The most important factors that affect such attitude are: (i) having dependents (odds ratio = 4.569); (ii) having talked about donation within the family (OR = 4.132); (iii) being willing to accept an autopsy if one were necessary (OR = 5.952); (iv) having had previous experience of organ donation and transplantation (OR = 5.814); (v) not being concerned about mutilation of the cadaver (OR = 8.792); and (vi) the attitude of one’s partner toward donation, especially when this is negative (OR = 0.002). Conclusions:  The attitude toward organ donation of Germans who usually reside in Spain is the same as that described in the native Spanish population, and is determined by many psychosocial factors.