AUTHOR=Chen Xiulan , Wei Wei , Ai Weili 

TITLE=Organ donation: Key factors influencing the younger generation's decision-making in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1052875

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1052875

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: Organ transplants in China are facing a severe shortage of donors, and the organ donation rate needs to be increased. In recent years, there has been a relatively positive change in young people's attitudes towards organ donation. The aim of the study was to understand young people's perceptions and attitudes towards organ donation and the factors that influence them and can positively impact the promotion of organ donation.
Methods: This paper is based on data from a questionnaire survey of 501 young people. A chi-square test was used to examine whether there were significant differences in the willingness to organ donation among young people with different characteristics. Factor analysis was used to investigate the main factors influencing the different attitudes of young people towards organ donation, and one-way ANOVA was used to examine whether young people with different characteristics were affected differently by different factors. 
Results: In our survey of young people aged 18-30, 99.2% of respondents knew about organ donation, 47.1% were willing to donate organs, and 15.2% understood that there were corresponding laws and regulations for organ donation. The study’s findings showed that urban residents are more willing to be organ donators than rural residents; people with higher education levels have better awareness and are more willing to donate an organ; people with religious beliefs are more likely to donate organs. The main factors that support the willingness of young people to donate are the social environment that provides support, their optimism in dealing with death and their desire to realise their final value after death. The main factors for those unwilling to donate were low awareness or misconceptions about organ donation among individuals and their families and their attitudes towards death.
Conclusions: Young people knew about organ donation but had a low depth of awareness. Household registration type, education level and religious affiliation significantly correlate with people's willingness to donate. The supportive environment for organ donation in society and the correct understanding of the organ donation process and laws and regulations can influence people's willingness to donate.