RACIAL AND ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN STUDENTS ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD ORGAN DONATION

Donor authorizations tend to be especially low among African Americans and other minority and ethnic groups. This study assessed and compare d the beliefs, attitudes, and rates of participation regarding organ d onation among a sample of racially and ethnically mixed university stu dents, A 64-item survey questionnaire regarding organ/tissue donation issues was administered to 683 undergraduate students from different r acial and ethnic back grounds at a state-assisted university in the Mi dwest. The findings from the study indicated that African-American stu dents differ significantly from white students in their attitudes and beliefs toward organ donation, while Asian-American, Hispanic, and int ernational students were similar to white students in their attitudes and beliefs regarding organ donation, However, a greater percentage of African-American students have granted permission for organ donation compared to African Americans in the general population.