Approaching donor families: culture, religion and ethnicity

Purpose of review Recent publications have discussed the relationship between ethnic cultural and religious factors and both the willingness and the actual decision to donate organs. A call is made to use this information more effectively. Recent findings The studies reviewed show that attitudes, beliefs and opinions of people, especially those rooted in speicific religious or cultural backgroudns, have not change significantly over the last decade. Views and misconceptions of minorities in different countries seem to have stronger resemblance to views in the societes or regions of orgin, than to the mainstream view of the host countries - Presumably, this software of the mind is quite resistant to change, but badly understood and surrounded with misunderstanding and prejudice about ethnicity, cultural background and religion. Improved understanding can be more effectiviely used to design more effective intervention methods. There are far more suggested approaches for public education and adaptations of the donation process than have been put to practice. Summary Persistence of cultural and religious factors negatively impact donor rates, hence priority should be given to the development of well researched intervention strategies in which the available information is for public education and improvement of the donation process.