EEBA Program (PDF/3MB) - EEBA - Annual Meeting

MENTAL ATTITUDES CONCERNING CORNEA DONATION IN A NON MEDICALLY EDUCATEDAND A PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL COHORTC. Uhlig¹, R. Koch², J. Promesberger¹¹Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center; ²Institue for science technology, University ofMuenster, GermanyPurpose: To evaluate if medical education influences attitudes for postmortal cornea donation.Methods: Prospective, randomized questionnaire distributed via internet-email cohorts to employeesof a German university clinic (UE), or via homepage link to the employees of a large, industrial city inGermany (CE). The survey included 12 questions regarding baseline demographic characteristics ofparticipants, and 21 questions concerning their knowledge, attitudes, and motives in respect to organand cornea donation.Results: 805 city employees (69.3 % female, 30.4% male, 40.6 catholic, 27.0% protestant) and 1499medical employees (70.3% female, 29.7% male, 57.8% catholic, 26.2% protestant) responded to thequestionnaire. Age distribution in CE was 8.2% (18-29 years), 51.5% (30-49), 40.2 (50-69) and in UE20.2%(18-29), 56.6%(30-49), and 23.1%(50-69). Willingness for postmortem cornea donation was77.3% in CE and 66.5% in UE. 16.0% of the CE in contrast to 7.7% (UE) are anxious that they would bemedically treated worse if they possessed a donor card. 19.0% of the CE in contrast to 8.2% (UE) areafraid, that organ and tissues are commercially treated. In both groups, large majorities are in favour ofa prohibition concerning any commercial treatments with organs and tissues (CE: 86.7%; UE: 84.5%).24.9% (CE) and 19.4% (UE) do not want their personal donor attitude to become officially registered.Conclusions: Employees without or with medical education express similar negative attitudestowards organ and tissue commerce and official registration of donor acceptance. Without medicaleducation, participants were more open-minded in general cornea donation, but also more scepticalas regards postmortem medical treatment or commercial use of organs and tissues. Such anxietyshould be reason to improve specific public information. The reasons that might decrease willingnessfor postmortem cornea donation in medical professionals should be investigated in further surveys.XXV ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN EYE BANK ASSOCIATION Zagreb, Croatia 18/19 January 2013 31