Young adults' views on organ donation

Abstract

Maltese young adults' views on organ donation have never been researched. The understanding of these views could aid in the development of strategies encouraging and facilitating donation decision registration. Using a non-probability convenience sampling technique, a questionnaire was distributed to 100 Maltese young adults, aged between 19- 30 years. 65% of the young adults completed the questionnaire. Quantitative results were analyzed descriptively while the participants' comments were interpreted by content analysis. The majority showed acceptance of both living and post-mortem organ donation. 65% had informed their family of their decision but only 20% declared their wish to donate their organs after death with a donor card. Lack of time and unawareness of how and where to get a donor card were their main justifications. Participants showed dismay at the potential disregard of donor cards with the current local hospital policy. Participants showed a fair knowledge on organ donation, with 55% being aware that a person with brain death cannot recover. 46% indicated that mass media was their primary means of education. Mass media seemed to be a successful means of education in this survey, yet school education could be more effective, targeting diverse young adults' personality and values. It was also suggested that donor cards should be made legally valid and including an individual's donor status with their driving license application could solve the obstacles participants encountered.