Acceptance of and factors influencing attitudes towards post-mortem organ donation in Germany : Analysis of representative cross-sectional studies between 2010 and 2016

Abstract

The German post-mortem organ donation rate has been low, since transplantation scandals attracted media attention in 2012. Therefore, the objective of this article is to address the willingness to document attitudes (e.g., organ donor card) towards organ donation, factors influencing the willingness to document the individual will and knowledge of organ donation among the German public. Data of surveys on attitudes towards organ and tissue donation in Germany conducted between 2010 and 2016 by the Federal Centre for Health Education (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung) were analysed. Using binary logistic regression, factors influencing the method for documenting the individual will were identified. In the 2016 survey, 35.7% of all respondents had documented their will in the form of an organ donor card or an advance health care directive. Female gender, younger age, higher level of education, discussion of organ donation with next-of-kin/friends, grasping the concept of death and knowledge of organ donation increase the likelihood of possessing an organ donor card. Being male increases the likelihood of documenting the individual will using an electronic health insurance card. Older respondents or respondents with lower level of education lack knowledge about organ donation. Persons with extensive knowledge are more likely to possess an organ donor card and to consent to donate organs of next-of-kin. Further measures to increase knowledge of organ donation among the general public should be discussed. The influence of gender on the willingness to use different methods to document attitudes needs to be evaluated.