Risk Behavior and Reciprocity of Organ Donation Attitudes in Young Men

Vetterli, D.C.M.; Lava, Sebastiano; Essig, Stefan; Milosevic, G.; Cajöri, G.; Uehlinger, D. E.; Moor, M.B. (2015). Risk Behavior and Reciprocity of Organ Donation Attitudes in Young Men. Transplantation proceedings, 47(6), pp. 1560-1566. Elsevier 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.02.024

[img] Text
Vetterli et al 2015.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (350kB)

Background

Lack of donor organs remains a major obstacle in organ transplantation. Our aim was to evaluate (1) the association between engaging in high-risk recreational activities and attitudes toward organ donation and (2) the degree of reciprocity between organ acceptance and donation willingness in young men.
Methods

A 17-item, close-ended survey was offered to male conscripts ages 18 to 26 years in all Swiss military conscription centers. Predictors of organ donation attitudes were assessed in bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression. Reciprocity of the intentions to accept and to donate organs was assessed by means of donor card status.
Results

In 1559 responses analyzed, neither motorcycling nor practicing extreme sports reached significant association with donor card holder status. Family communication about organ donation, student, or academic profession and living in a Latin linguistic region were predictors of positive organ donation attitudes, whereas residence in a German-speaking region and practicing any religion predicted reluctance. Significantly more respondents were willing to accept than to donate organs, especially among those without family communication concerning organ donation.
Conclusions

For the first time, it was shown that high-risk recreational activities do not influence organ donation attitudes. Second, a considerable discrepancy in organ donation reciprocity was identified. We propose that increasing this reciprocity could eventually increase organ donation rates.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > Unit Childrens Hospital > Forschungsgruppe Nephrologie / Hypertonie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Dermatology, Urology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Osteoporosis (DURN) > Clinic of Nephrology and Hypertension

UniBE Contributor:

Lava, Sebastiano, Essig, Stefan, Uehlinger, Dominik

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 320 Political science

ISSN:

0041-1345

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anette van Dorland

Date Deposited:

11 Feb 2016 09:42

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:51

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.02.024

PubMed ID:

26293013

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.75409

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/75409

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback