Attitudes and beliefs about deceased organ donation in the Arabic-speaking community in Australia: a focus group study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo describe the beliefs and attitudes to organ donation in the Arabic-speaking community.DesignArabic-speaking participants were purposively recruited to participate in 6 focus groups. Transcripts were analysed thematically.Participants53 participants, aged 19–77 years, and originating from 8 countries, participated in 1 of 6 focus groups. Participants identified as Christian (73%), Islam (26%), Buddhist (2%) or did not identify with any religion (2%).Results6 themes (with subthemes) were identified; religious conviction; invisibility of organ donation; medical suspicion; owning the decision; and reciprocal benefit.ConclusionsAlthough organ donation is considered a generous life-saving ‘gift’, representative members of the Arabic-speaking community in Australia were unfamiliar with, unnerved by and sceptical about the donation process. Making positive decisions about organ donation would likely require resolving tensions between respecting family, community and religious values versus their individual autonomy. Providing targeted education about the process and benefits of organ donation within the Arabic community may clarify ambiguities surrounding cultural and religious-based views on organ donation, reduce taboos and suspicion towards donation, and in turn, lead to increased organ donation rates.

Perception of Healthcare Workers about Barriers Impacting Organ Donation in Qatar: A Focus Group Study

“…Although, this was a qualitative study using focus discussions, it was able to bring out several chalenges to organ donation similar to quantitative studies conducted all over the world [5,6,7,8,11,13,16].…”

“…It was noticed that in case of ambiguity, individuals consider only those views which were followed in their own community as a benchmark for their own views about organ donation. According to a research done in Australia people tend to resort to religion for guidance when they are mostly unfamiliar with organ donation [6]. Intactness of body during burial was found to be an influential belief associated with Muslim as well as Christian religion which impacted their decision negatively.…”

“…Researches in America, Europe and Australia have outlined that lack of knowledge, bodily concerns, ethnic, religious, community and family beliefs and values, uncertainties regarding religious permissibility, conflict between one's own desire and family values, desire for reciprocal benefits are some of the reasons that impact an individual's organ donation decision and act as barriers to the process [5][6]. However, the body of knowledge in context of Organ donation and Transplantation in Qatar is minimal.…”

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“…The reasons for this attitude included respecting parental authority, intense emotionality, avoiding taboo, and fearing judgement. 10 A study from Egypt aiming to analyze donor motivations in living-donor liver transplant has shown that all donors had expressed the importance of their religious beliefs in their decision. 11 Some Muslim scholars claim that living-donor organ transplant, extraction of organs from dead individuals, and transplant are prohibited.…”

Validation of a Survey Questionnaire on Organ Donation: An Arabic World Scenario

“…Lack of knowledge, attitudes, education, gender, occupation, bodily concerns, sociodemographic concerns, community and family beliefs and values, uncertainties regarding religious permissibility, conflict between one's own desire and family values, and desire for reciprocal benefits are some of the reasons that impact an individual's organ donation decision and act as barriers to the process which have been researched by America, Europe, and other countries in the world [2, 3]. …”