Encouraging Family Discussion on the Decision to Donate Organs: The Role of the Willingness to Communicate Scale

Family discussion of organ donation has been found to double rates of family consent regarding organ donation. Therefore, family discussion is an important communication process to study in the effort to get more people to become organ donors. This investigation concerns the willingness to communicate about organ donation and its relationship to other variables and processes related to family discussion of organ donation. Previous research on willingness to communicate examined the antecedent variables of knowledge, attitude toward organ donation, and altruism. This research found that being willing to communicate about organ donation with one's family is related to prior thought and intent to sign an organ donor card, to perceiving organ donation messages as credible, and to feeling relatively low anxiety after reading organ donation messages. One week after being presented with the messages, willingness to communicate was found to be positively associated with worrying about the lack of donors, engaging in family discussion about organ donation, and having an organ donor card witnessed. It was negatively related to feeling personally uneasy about organ donation during the past week.     

Beyond the organ donor card: the effect of knowledge, attitudes, and values on willingness to communicate about organ donation to family members

Although numerous studies have examined many of the predictors of signing an organ donor card, including knowledge, attitudes, values, and demographic variables, very few have examined the factors associated with individuals' willingness to communicate about organ donation with family members. Because organ donation does not take place without the permission of a person's next-of-kin, government agencies and organ procurement organizations have targeted communication with family members as a primary objective of organ donation campaigns. This study reports the results of a survey of a stratified random sample of adults at 2 local sites of a national employer. Results indicate that knowledge, attitude, and altruism are significantly related to 2 measures of willingness to communicate: past behavior (whether respondents had already discussed organ donation with family members) and a scale measuring willingness to communicate about organ donation in the future. Because the quality of discussions between the potential donor and his or her family will depend on how well the donor is able to address vital issues regarding donation, it is concluded that campaigns seeking to promote communication between family members about organ donation must simultaneously seek to increase knowledge, debunk myths, and bolster positive attitudes about donation.     

Beyond the Organ Donor Card: The Effect of Knowledge,Attitudes, and Values on Willingness to Communicate About Organ Donation to Family Members

Although numerous studies have examined many of the predictors of signing an organ donor card, including knowledge, attitudes, values, and demographic variables, very few have examined the factors associated with individuals' willingness to communicate about organ donation with family members. Because organ donation does not take place without the permission of a person's next-of-kin, government agencies and organ procurement organizations have targeted communication with family members as a primary objective of organ donation campaigns. This study reports the results of a survey of a stratified random sample of adults at 2 local sites of a national employer. Results indicate that knowledge, attitude, and altruism are significantly related to 2 measures of willingness to communicate: past behavior (whether respondents had already discussed organ donation with family members) and a scale measuring willingness to communicate about organ donation in the future. Because the quality of discussions between the potential donor and his or her family will depend on how well the donor is able to address vital issues regarding donation, it is concluded that campaigns seeking to promote communication between family members about organ donation must simultaneously seek to increase knowledge, debunk myths, and bolster positive attitudes about donation.     

Family Communication Patterns Moderate the Relationship Between Psychological Reactance and Willingness to Talk About Organ Donation

Considerable research has investigated how psychological reactance affects individuals' responses to health promotion messages, but little is known about how family processes might moderate the reactance process. In this study, 301 participants were exposed to a persuasive message about organ donation. The moderating role of family communication patterns in the reactance process was tested using hierarchical regression. We found that family conversation orientation had a direct effect on willingness to talk with family members about being an organ donor and that family conformity orientation and family conversation orientation each interacted with reactance to predict willingness to communicate with family about donation. Theoretically, these results extend psychological reactance theory by considering how interpersonal factors affect the reactance process. Practically, the findings suggest that for optimal impact, family processes should be considered in the design of messages promoting organ donation.     

Family communication patterns moderate the relationship between psychological reactance and willingness to talk about organ donation

Considerable research has investigated how psychological reactance affects individuals' responses to health promotion messages, but little is known about how family processes might moderate the reactance process. In this study, 301 participants were exposed to a persuasive message about organ donation. The moderating role of family communication patterns in the reactance process was tested using hierarchical regression. We found that family conversation orientation had a direct effect on willingness to talk with family members about being an organ donor and that family conformity orientation and family conversation orientation each interacted with reactance to predict willingness to communicate with family about donation. Theoretically, these results extend psychological reactance theory by considering how interpersonal factors affect the reactance process. Practically, the findings suggest that for optimal impact, family processes should be considered in the design of messages promoting organ donation.     

A Theory of Planned Behavior Study of College Students' Intention to Register as Organ Donors in Japan,Korea, and the United States

This study investigated willingness of Americans, Koreans, and Japanese to register as organ donors using the theory of planned behavior. Although previous research showed that attitude toward donation and communication with family predicted organ donation behaviors for respondents in the United States, these variables were also significant for respondents in Japan and Korea. Perceived behavioral control predicted intention to register for Japanese participants whereas knowledge about organ donation was associated with reluctance to register for Koreans. Spiritual connection and concern were shown to be causal factors underlying attitude in all 3 countries. In spite of positive attitudes toward organ donation and comparable knowledge with Americans and Japanese, most Korean participants declined to take an application to register as a donor. Implications of these findings for future research are discussed.     

A theory of planned behavior study of college students' intention to register as organ donors in Japan, Korea, and the United States

This study investigated willingness of Americans, Koreans, and Japanese to register as organ donors using the theory of planned behavior. Although previous research showed that attitude toward donation and communication with family predicted organ donation behaviors for respondents in the United States, these variables were also significant for respondents in Japan and Korea. Perceived behavioral control predicted intention to register for Japanese participants whereas knowledge about organ donation was associated with reluctance to register for Koreans. Spiritual connection and concern were shown to be causal factors underlying attitude in all 3 countries. In spite of positive attitudes toward organ donation and comparable knowledge with Americans and Japanese, most Korean participants declined to take an application to register as a donor. Implications of these findings for future research are discussed.     

Correlates of willingness to consider organ donation among blacks

Professionals in the health care and organ procurement fields reveal that black Americans display limited commitment to organ donation. The present study represents an attempt to shed some light on this issue by examining the relationship of selected demographic, knowledge and attitude-belief variables to willingness to consider organ donation within a black population. Findings indicated that only a few of the demographic and knowledge variables were related to willingness to consider organ donation. All of the attitude-belief variables, however, were found to be significantly associated with the dependent variable. Implications of the findings for recruiting black organ donors and future research are discussed.     

Knowledge regarding organ donation: identifying and overcoming barriers to organ donation

Four-hundred and fifty-five undergraduate students, 26 MBA students, and 465 people from the surrounding community responded to 21 true/false questions regarding factual knowledge about organ donation. The mean number of correct answers was 74.6%. The correct response rate, however, varied widely over questions. Four questions with very large error rates suggest possible 'barriers to donation'. Specifically, these questions concerned religious support for organ donation, the concept of brain death, the normally rigid separation of physician teams who are primarily responsible for the welfare of the donor and donee, and a mistaken belief that to be valid an organ donor card must be filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Knowledge of organ donation facts was found to be related to whether subjects carried or requested an organ donor card, their attitude towards organ donation and their willingness to donate their own organs or the organs of a deceased loved one. These findings suggest strategies for raising public support for organ donation.     

Examining college students' intentions to become organ donors

502 university students completed survey items on attitudes, experiences, knowledge, and behaviors related to organ and tissue donation (OTD). Despite positive attitudes toward organ donation, only 11% of students formally have declared their intentions to donate through the state registry or by signing an organ card. When asked to report why they have not signed an organ donor card/registry, students reported, "not considering the topic," "intentions to donate in the future," and "general negative attitudes" among other reasons. Students also reported a generally positive attitude toward the topic of OTD and moderate to strong intentions to become organ donors in the future despite feeling somewhat uninformed on the topic. The results are discussed in relation to future campaign message strategies to promote OTD to university students.     

Predictors of Engaging in Family Discussion About Organ Donation and Getting Organ Donor Cards Witnessed

Family knowledge of organ donation intentions has been found to double rates of family consent regarding organ donation; therefore, it is an important communication process to study in the effort to persuade more people to become organ donors. This article reports the results of a study based on the heuristic-systematic model of persuasion designed to assess predictors of family discussion of organ donation and getting organ donor cards witnessed. Possible predictors of family discussion and getting organ donor cards witnessed included individual differences and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors. A path model of the process leading to family discussion and getting organ donor cards witnessed is presented and results are discussed for their practical importance.     

Predictors of engaging in family discussion about organ donation and getting organ donor cards witnessed

Family knowledge of organ donation intentions has been found to double rates of family consent regarding organ donation; therefore, it is an important communication process to study in the effort to persuade more people to become organ donors. This article reports the results of a study based on the heuristic-systematic model of persuasion designed to assess predictors of family discussion of organ donation and getting organ donor cards witnessed. Possible predictors of family discussion and getting organ donor cards witnessed included individual differences and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors. A path model of the process leading to family discussion and getting organ donor cards witnessed is presented and results are discussed for their practical importance.     

Examining College Students' Intentions to Become Organ Donors

ABSTRACT

502 university students completed survey items on attitudes, experiences, knowledge, and behaviors related to organ and tissue donation (OTD). Despite positive attitudes toward organ donation, only 11% of students formally have declared their intentions to donate through the state registry or by signing an organ card. When asked to report why they have not signed an organ donor card/registry, students reported, “not considering the topic,” “intentions to donate in the future,” and “general negative attitudes” among other reasons. Students also reported a generally positive attitude toward the topic of OTD and moderate to strong intentions to become organ donors in the future despite feeling somewhat uninformed on the topic. The results are discussed in relation to future campaign message strategies to promote OTD to university students.     

Increasing Dutch adolescents' willingness to register their organ donation preference: the effectiveness of an education programme delivered by kidney transplantation patients

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the effects of an educational programme about organ donation delivered by (ex-)patients with a successfully transplanted donor kidney on the willingness of adolescents to register their organ donation preference. METHODS: A total of 319 secondary school students were randomly assigned to a control group who received no specific educational information about organ donation or to an experimental group who received a 45-min lesson provided by an (ex-)patient. The lesson consisted of a presentation of basic facts about organ donation, the patient's own experiences with organ donation and a discussion with the students about organ donation and related issues. RESULTS: The educational programme increased the intention of the students to register their organ donation preference. Also, positive outcome expectancies, self-control over the decision, and knowledge increased and negative outcome expectancies decreased. However, it did not lead to a substantially larger percentage of students who intend to register themselves as a potential organ donor. Experimental students were less willing to let their relatives choose to make the decision in the case that they die, but reported being more willing to make the decision themselves through registration. CONCLUSIONS: (Ex-)patients with experience with organ donation can successfully encourage adolescents to make a well-considered choice with regard to organ donation registration.     

Determinants of the intention of Dutch adolescents to register as organ donors.

This article identifies relevant predictors of willingness among Dutch adolescents to register as posthumous organ and tissue donors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1836 Dutch adolescents between 16 and 18 years of age who had not yet been approached for registration. Sixty-seven percent of the participants indicated that they were willing to register as organ donors. In order of greatest association, negative outcome beliefs, anxiety, social outcome expectations, involvement with organ donation issues, positive outcome beliefs, knowledge about organ donation registration, past behaviour, and sex were significant predictors of the willingness to register as organ donor. Religion and level of education had a significant bi-variate correlation with intention, but were not significant predictors after controlling for other variables. The results give clear suggestions for tailoring organ donation registration interventions to specific characteristics, beliefs and misconceptions of adolescents.     

Donor registries,first-person consent legislation,and the supply of deceased organ donors

In this paper, we exploit the varied timing in state adoption of organ donor registries and first-person consent (FPC) legislation to examine corresponding changes in the supply of deceased organ donors. Results indicate that the establishment of a state organ donor registry leads to an increase in donation rates of approximately 8%, while the adoption of FPC legislation has no effect on the supply of organ donors. These results reinforce the need to encourage individuals to communicate their donation preferences, either explicitly via a registry or by discussing them with family.     

The role of anticipated guilt in intentions to register as organ donors and to discuss organ donation with family

This project extends previous cognition-based organ donation research by addressing the role of anticipated guilt in individuals' intentions to register as donors and to discuss organ donation with family under the theoretical framework of the integrative model of behavioral prediction. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that after controlling for the influence of attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy, anticipated guilt positively predicted intentions and was a stronger predictor of intentions in the donor registration model than in the family discussion model. Anticipated guilt was in turn predicted by empathic concern and norms in the donor registration model and by empathic concern, attitudes, and norms in the family discussion model. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Factors that Influence Organ Donor Registration Among Asian American Physicians in Queens,New York

Organ donation rates in the United States are lowest among Asians. Physicians are highly respected in Asian communities and may be influential in promoting donor registration, but little is known about their organ donor registration attitudes. We assessed associations between knowledge, attitudes, personal/professional experience, cultural/religious beliefs surrounding organ donation and donor registration status using multivariable logistic regression. We surveyed 121 Asian physicians in Queens, New York; 22% were registered donors. Registered donors were more likely to discuss donation wishes with their family (OR 9.47, 95% CI 2.60–34.51), know that donor human leukocyte antigen does not need to match organ recipients (OR 6.47, 95% CI 1.66–25.28), and have experience advising patients about organ donation (OR 5.35, 95% CI 1.50–19.02). Culturally tailored educational materials providing updated information to promote family discussion about organ donation could potentially increase Asian physicians’ level of comfort and expertise in discussing organ donor registration with patients.

     

The role of message frame, perceived risk, and ambivalence in individuals' decisions to become organ donors

The decision to become an organ donor involves considering both self-relevant risks and the needs of others. This study applied prospect theory to examine how news exemplar message frames that focus on the possible survival or death of a potential organ transplant recipient affect participants' willingness to become organ donors. Perceived personal risk and ambivalence were examined as moderating variables. Results indicate that risk, rather than ambivalence, played an instrumental role in participants' decisions to donate. Although no main effects or interactions related to message frame emerged in initial analyses, a supplemental analysis revealed an interaction such that there was a modest persuasive advantage for the loss-framed message among low-risk participants. Findings suggest that vivid exemplar message frames, compared to other types of more explicit organ donor appeals, may be associated with unique decisions about organ donation.     

A model of willingness to become a potential organ donor.

This article presents two models of the decision to become a potential organ donor. In the first model the act of carrying or requesting an organ donor card is related to values and factual knowledge regarding organ donation, through intervening attitude and willingness constructs. A sample of 286 students is used to test this model via the LISREL computer program for modeling latent variables. All hypothesized relationships had the predicted sign and were significant. This model is extended by adding the variables attitude towards death, prior blood donation, and age of subject to the model. A second sample of 365 adults from the local community is used to test the second model via LISREL. With two exceptions in the adult sample, all hypothesized relationships had the predicted sign and were significant. Where the two models overlap the results are generally similar. Implications of the models for marketing the act of becoming a potential organ donor are discussed.