Uncovering Barriers and Strategies for African Americans and Organ Donation

Abstract

Using the nominal group technique barriers to becoming an organ donor and strategies that would elicit new African American donors were examined among seven groups of African Americans (N = 50). Results indicate that a large number of barriers to donation still exist within the African American community, including lack of knowledge, myths about donation, and mistrust of the medical community. Potential strategies to increase donors included educational campaigns, testimonials, statistical messages, and community involvement. Future directions for campaigns are explored.

Keywords:

• African Americans
• organ donation
• nominal group technique

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest to disclose. Data availability: The data that support the findings of this study are not available on request due to the details of the informed consent for the study and because the contents contain information that could compromise the privacy of the research participants.

Funding details

This research was supported by a small research grant from the University of Missouri—Saint Louis College of Arts & Sciences. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Missouri—Saint Louis.

Notes

1 One of the clergy members from a predominantly African American church was Caucasian. He was recommended by his African American pastor for inclusion in the study. One other participant was married to an African American man and recommended to the group by her husband’s aunt, who was African American, and had also took part in a prior focus group. Both participants lived and were immersed in the community that was being studied and felt they could add to the discussion of how African Americans felt about organ donation. Given that both participants were recommended by African American members of the community they were included in the study.

2 Two African American participants dropped out of the study after they were informed the sessions would be videotaped due to concerns about privacy.