Influence of traditional Chinese culture and ideas on organ donation / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The number of patients in need of organ transplantation in China is increased by more than 10%per year. Due to the lack of voluntary donations, China is facing a more severe donor shortage than other countries. What are the specific reasons for the shortage of donor organs in China? What is the attitude toward organ donation in Chinese citizens? What factors are affecting the implementation of organ donation in Chinese citizens? OBJECTIVE:To investigate the influence of traditional Chinese ideas on the wil ing of Chinese citizens toward organ donation after death. METHODS:By random cluster sampling, 900 persons selected from different social classes as research objects received questionnaire survey. Self-made questionnaire consisted of cognition, attitude and behavior of the public in face of organ donation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) 55.16%of persons thought that the main purpose of organ donation was to help others, 24.22%thought that the main purpose of organ donation was a manifestation of social morality, 11.94%thought that organ donation was the continuation of their lives. (2) There were 70.00%who said donations should be used for the cause of organ transplantation, in order to save more lives, and the average score was 2.53 points;while the number of persons who proposed donor organs would be applied in medical teaching was similar to that in pathological anatomy, and the average score was 1.72 and 1.75, respectively. (3) 65.01%of the public supported cardiopulmonary death standard to judge death, 24.33%supported brain death standard to judge death, and moreover, 10.66%of people did not know what to take. (4) 50.52%of people thought that the main factors affecting the organ donation was traditional Chinese culture and ideas, fol owed by the donation program and family feelings. The study found that traditional Chinese culture and ideas are the main factor affecting organ donation in the public, most people think that cardiopulmonary death standard is better to judge death and that the main purpose of organ donation is to help others that organ donation should be applied firstly to organ transplantation in order to save more lives.