Organ donation rates among Hispanics are lower relative to non-Hispanic whites. The purpose of this study is to assess whether participation in a culture-specific educational organ donation intervention increases organ donation advocacy among allied health students at a Hispanic-serving institution.

Methods: A one-group pre-post study design was used to assess the change in student attitudes toward organ donation and advocacy. An educational 20-minute presentation on organ donation incorporating culture-specific themes addressing common misconceptions was delivered to 13 classrooms (321 students, 5 health professions disciplines). The survey instrument included sociodemographic data and questions related to the domains of fears about organ donation, worries about registry and procurement, awareness about signing up as a donor, religion, donor status and willingness to be an organ donor advocate. Moreover, free-response questions solicited student input on whether organ donation advocacy should be incorporated in health professions curricula. Paired-samples t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-intervention organ donation attitudes.

Results: The majority of participants were female (79%) and Hispanic (86%). Around 40% were organ donors and most (70%) were willing to be organ donor advocates at baseline. Significant differences in organ donation status by ethnicity (p<0.042) and by willingness to be an organ donor advocate were found (p<0.001). Pre-post analysis found the intervention to significantly impact attitudes of participants in all domains (p<0.001). Sub-analysis among non-organ donors found significant improvements in many misconceptions. A significant increase in the number of participants willing to become organ donor advocates after the intervention was observed (p<0.001), with 76% of participants supporting the inclusion of the topic in the curriculum.

Conclusions: Health professionals are uniquely positioned to play a positive role in increasing organ donation rates in Hispanic populations. Study findings provide preliminary evidence to the success of educational efforts in promoting an organ donation advocacy culture among allied health students.

CITATION INFORMATION: Tasnif Y, Ghaddar S, Saladin S, Alaniz A. Culture Specific Interventions to Increase Organ Donation Advocacy in a Hispanic Serving Institution. Am J Transplant. 2016;16 (suppl 3).

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