Are organ donation attitudes and beliefs, empathy, and life orientation related to donor registration status?

CONTEXT: The severe organ donor shortage necessitates additional research on variables that may distinguish those who register to be organ donors and those who do not. Such research has important implications for the development of educational interventions. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether registered organ donors differ significantly from nondonors on measures of organ donation beliefs and attitudes, empathy, and life orientation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective participants were approached about the study while visiting a local branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Once consent was obtained, participants completed several questionnaires. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty community dwellers who visited the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Alachua County, Fla. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Organ donor registration status, beliefs about organ donation, attitudes toward organ donation, empathy, and life orientation (ie, optimism). RESULTS: Registered organ donors reported more positive beliefs toward organ donation than did nonregistered participants or participants who were undecided about their registration status. Registered organ donors also reported more positive organ donation attitudes and more optimism than did nonregistered participants.