Willingness of organ donation in college students: cultural and mental characteristics / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chinese citizens have a high approbation to organ donation, but few take action. Besides the restriction of policies and regulations, there are still many hidden factors, among which the cultural elements should never be neglected. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cultural and psychological factor affecting the willingness of donors under Chinese cultural background through the phenomenological study on the organ donation simulation in college students, and to explore the strategies for promoting organ donation. METHODS: Totally 50 junior students majored in applied psychology were selected from one university in Guangdong Province, including 19 males and 31 females, and an in-depth interview was performed in 8 students (2 males and 6 females). The participants were interviewed using qualitative research methods and phenomenological approaches after simulating the dilemma of organ donation, to explore the cultural and psychological factors that affect the willingness of college students to donate their organs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The donation situation will affect the willingness to donate, among which, cognition, sentiment and emotional connections are the psychological factors, and death, loss, taboo, meaning and respect are the cultural factors. Cultural psychological factors contributing to the willingness of organ donation included maximum the organ value, positive mentality, pleasure to help others and life extension. The cultural and psychological factors that bad for the willingness to donate include fear of death, traditional thinking, and uncertainty. To encourage donation, it is necessary to conduct death education, cultural guidance, and strengthen social support, as well as respect the opinions of important families and improve the relevant regulations as quickly as possible.