Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

The path not taken: social and cultural barriers to thoracic transplantation.

Patterson GM

Pulmonary Service, Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center, 1100 North College Avenue, Fayetteville, AK 72703, USA. gmpat53@yahoo.com

Religious beliefs, misperceptions, and distrust of the health care system have been cited as barriers to organ donation or transplantation in minorities. Improved training of hospital staff on donation protocols has been demonstrated to increase consent rates for or-gan donation. Increased interaction of minorities with ethnically appropriate transplant candidates, recipients, and donation or procurement personnel has a positive effect on donor rates. Programs using such practices must be expanded to overcome significant barriers to the transplantation of solid organs. Research into additional ways to improve acceptance of organ transplantation by minorities is needed to increase participation rates.

Published 1 August 2006 in Clin Chest Med, 27(3): 503-9, vii.
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