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Presenter: Melissa, Hyde, Mt Gravatt, Australia
Authors: Melissa Hyde, Suzanne Chambers
Information sources, donation knowledge and attitudes towards transplant recipients in Australia
Melissa Hyde1, Suzanne Chambers1
1Behavioural Basis of Health, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, No, Australia
Background: Knowledge is linked consistently with organ donation attitudes, willingness, and consent. Negative information about donation and the recipients of donation can affect public opinion and donation willingness. However, it is unclear which information sources are most important in forming knowledge, particularly in Australia where little prior research exists. In this regard, we aimed to identify information sources that may inform Australian’s organ donation knowledge and attitudes towards transplant recipients.
Methods: 1487 Australian residents aged 18 years or older completed an online survey. Self-reported knowledge, information sources, and attitudes toward transplant recipients were assessed.
Results: Participants felt fairly well informed about organ donation; particularly if they registered donation wishes, were female and older. Over half reported their driver’s license, news on TV, and discussion with family/friends, as donation information sources. However, information sources contributing to knowledge were personal experience, online, hospital, Government campaign, discussion with family/friends, Medicare, doctor’s surgery, and the newspaper. Differences based on registration status, sex, and age, were found. Discussion with family/friends and movies/TV shows, as well as not having seen information in a newspaper or doctor’s surgery, contributed to positive attitudes towards recipients; although the variance explained was small.
Conclusion: People felt more informed by personal, medical, and government information sources compared to mass media. Family discussion was not only a common information source but also contributed significantly and positively to both donation knowledge and attitudes towards recipients. Further exploration of information sources contributing to young male’s donation knowledge and community attitudes toward transplant recipients is needed.
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