Choosing to be a designated organ donor on their first driver's license: actions, opinions, intentions, and barriers of Asian American and Pacific Islander adolescents in Hawaii

Abstract

The factors associated with Asian American and Pacific Islander adolescents' decision to be a designated organ donor on their first driver's license are largely unknown. To assess knowledge and attitudes about organ donation and sociocultural factors associated with designated organ donor status in Asian American and Pacific Islander youth in Hawaii. Written surveys and focus groups were conducted at high schools and churches. Two hundred eight Asian American and Pacific Islander teens, mean age 16 (SD, 2) years, 52.6% females, and 53.4% Catholic. Donor status on driver's license, awareness, attitudes, intentions, and barriers to becoming a designated organ donor. Eighteen percent of teens with a driver's license are designated organ donors. Twenty-one percent have talked to their parents about becoming a designated donor on their license. Of those without a license, 27.7% intended to become a designated donor. Sex, grade level, and immigrant status were not associated with designated organ donor status; however, Catholics were significantly less likely to be donors. Key barriers to being a designated donor included a lack of knowledge or misperceptions due to urban myths about organ donation, parents completing "organ donor" question on driver's license application, and not wanting to have their body "cut up." Future organ donor campaigns should educate ethnic minority adolescents about the importance of becoming a designated organ donor on their first driver's license and counter urban myths about deceased organ donation. Guidelines for how to initiate family discussions about organ donation should be sensitive to cultural and religious beliefs.