Public's Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation and Donation.

Abstract

The purpose of this survey was to assess the public's knowledge and attitudes toward vascularized composite allotransplantation and donation. Members of the public (n = 5942) were surveyed using a questionnaire that examined their knowledge and attitudes concerning solid organs (kidney, heart, liver, lung, and pancreas) and vascularized composite tissue (hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, abdominal wall, and face) transplantations and donations. Respondents demonstrated greater (all P < 0.05) knowledge and willingness to donate and/or receive solid organs than vascularized composite tissues. Educational level, accurate knowledge, willingness to donate, and willingness to receive were significant (all P < 0.05) determinants of acceptance to donate and/or receive hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, face, and/or abdominal wall. The public presented less knowledge and willingness to donate and/or receive hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, abdominal wall, and face. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.