Organ Donation Attitudes and Behaviors among Older Hispanic Women and Hispanic Community Health Workers: Formative Research to Inform a Culturally-Competent Mobile Health Education Intervention. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gordon, Elisa; Agu, Chidera; Siminoff, Laura; Alolod, Gerard; Kim, Rachel; Gonzalez, Tony; Montalvo, Antonette; Lopez, Eva; Munoz, Oscar; Arriola, Jessica; Benitez, Amanda; Hernandez, Ilda; Guinansaca, Nancy; Traino, Heather
• Is Part Of: Transplantation. Volume 101(2017)Supplement 8S-2
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; Transplantation immunology -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1097/01.tp.0000525070.59547.4a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0041-1337

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Despite positive public attitudes toward deceased organ donation and overrepresentation on the transplant waitlist, few ethnic minorities are registered as organ donors in the US. This paper presents preliminary findings from our mixed-method study, which aimed to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward deceased donation and donor registration among Hispanic women/Latinas age 50 years or over, and Hispanic community health workers (i.e., Promotoras). Methods: We conducted telephone surveys (n=30) and focus group interviews (n=4) in partnership with four Promotoras organizations located in cities representing the largest Hispanic population in the U.S. (PA, IL, TX). The survey contained 12 knowledge items, and 15 attitude items with summed scores ranged from 15-75; lower scores indicated negative attitudes about organ donation. The focus groups assessed perceptions and beliefs about deceased donation and donor registration. Results: Participants answered, on average, 7.1 knowledge questions correctly (SD: 1.95), and reported mean attitude scores of 58.4 (SD: 6.7). Most survey participants were in favor or strongly in favor of organ donation (83.3%), and more than half (56.7%) were registered donors. Preliminary focus group findings revealed three overarching themes: the absence of communication about deceased donation or donor registration within families, and in the Hispanic community; a lack of education about the need for Hispanic deceased donors; and concerns about systematic factors that reduce access to organ transplantation for undocumented Hispanic immigrants. Conclusion: Our findings will inform the content and design of an eLearning module, Promotoras de Donación, to educate Promotoras about organ donation and train them to promote donor registration among older Hispanics/Latinas. This presentation was supported by Grant No. R39OT29878 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration's Division of Transplantation (HRSA/DoT). The contents of this presentation are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of HRSA/DoT .