Abstract
Objective
To investigate the potential for maximizing organ and tissue donation by identifying an empirical basis for structuring donor discussions.
Design
Intentions to donate organs and tissues were recorded in 2 separate samples of participants and analyzed separately by using Guttman scaling, the second sample providing a replication of the findings from the first.
Participants
304 participants were recruited from the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2004, and 200 health professionals were recruited from the Royal Free Hospital.
Results
High coefficients of scalability and reproducibility in both samples indicate a one-dimensional scale for intentions to donate organs and tissues, with solid organs more likely to be donated than corneal, hand, and facial tissue. Thus donor discussions can be structured in a robust order, with the potential for reliable use of cutoff points once donation of a particular organ or tissue has been refused.
Conclusions
This reliable pattern can be used to maximize organ and tissue donation rates and to underpin emergent transplant techniques.
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