fieldwork: october 2009 - european...

Special Eurobarometer 333a “Organ donation and transplantation”

- 1 -

European Commission

Special Eurobarometer 333a

Spe

cial

Eur

obar

omet

er 3

33a

/ Wav

e 72

.3 –

TN

S O

pini

on &

Soc

ial

This survey was requested by the Directorate-General Health and Consumers and coordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication (“Research and Speechwriting” Unit). This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.

Fieldwork: October 2009

Publication: June 2010

Organ donation and transplantation


- 2 -

Eurobarometer 72.3

Organ donation and transplantation

Conducted by TNS Opinion & Social at the request of Directorate General Health and Consumers

Survey co-ordinated by Directorate General Communication

TNS Opinion & Social Avenue Herrmann Debroux, 40

1160 Brussels Belgium


- 3 -

Table of contents

INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................4

1. FAMILY DISCUSSIONS ............................................................................7

2. REGULATION OF ORGAN DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION..............11

3. DONATING ONE’S OWN ORGANS...........................................................15

4. DONATING AN ORGAN FROM A DECEASED CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER ......21

5. REASONS FOR NOT DONATING ORGANS ...............................................26

CONCLUSIONS...............................................................................................29

ANNEX TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS QUESTIONNAIRE TABLES


- 4 -

INTRODUCTION

The therapeutic use of human substances, including the transplantation of organs, is

an integral part of modern health systems and vital to the management of serious

health conditions throughout Europe.

Organ transplantation has been used successfully to treat serious health conditions

since 1954. Because of the success of this treatment, demand for organs continues to

exceed the number of donors, at an accelerating rate. In this context of accelerating

demand, it is important that efforts to increase the number of organ donors are

accompanied by high quality and safety standards. Improvement in the efficiency and

accessibility of transplantation systems is also key.

In 2008 the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on standards of

quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation1. At the same time,

the Commission launched an Action Plan2 designed to the promote the availability of

deceased and living donors across the European Union, increase the supply of organs,

enhance transplantation systems and ensure the quality and safety of procedures. The

Action Plan includes a number of priorities including the improvement of knowledge

and communication regarding organ donation and transplantation issues, both among

health professionals and the general public. The following Eurobarometer findings

highlight current attitudes in this area.

This Eurobarometer survey includes questions on behaviours and attitudes in relation

to organ donation and transplantation. It is based on a Eurobarometer survey of

26,788 European citizens carried out in October 2009 in the 27 European Union

Member States, as well as 3,504 interviews in the candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey

and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and the Turkish Cypriot Community3.

The latest research on organ donation and transplantation was preceded by two

previous Eurobarometer on this subject, the first in 2002 within the then 15 European

1 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation (December 2008) 2 Commission of the European Communities Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation (2009-2015): Strengthened Cooperation Between Member States. 3 Further information on the methodology used can be found in the technical note which specifies the interview methods as well as the intervals of confidence.


- 5 -

Union Member States4, and the second in 2006 within the enlarged Union of 25

Member States5.

****

This Eurobarometer survey was commissioned by the European Commission's

Directorate General SANCO. It was carried out by the TNS Opinion & Social network

between 2 October and 19 October 2009. The methodology used is that of Special

Eurobarometer surveys as carried out by Directorate General for Communication

(“Research and Speechwriting” Unit)6. A technical note on the methodology for

interviews conducted by the institutes within the TNS Opinion & Social network is

annexed to this report. This note indicates the interview methods and the confidence

intervals7.

The Eurobarometer web site can be consulted at the following address:

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all the respondents across the continent

who have given their time to take part in this survey.

Without their active participation, this study would not have been possible.

4 October-December 2002. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_183.5_fr.pdf 5 Interviews for the 2006 Eurobarometer on Organ Donation and Transplantation were conducted between 6 October and 8 November 2006 among 28,584 people in the 25 Member States, 2 accession states and the Turkish Cypriot Community. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_272d_en.pdf 6 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm 7 The results tables are included in the annex. It should be noted that the total of the percentages in the tables of this report may exceed 100% when the respondent can give several answers to the same question.


- 6 -

In this report, the countries are represented by their official abbreviations. The

abbreviations used in this report correspond to:

*Cyprus as a whole is one of the 27 European Union Member States. However, the “acquis communautaire” is suspended in the part of the country that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, only the interviews conducted in the part of the country controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus are recorded in the category “CY” and included in the EU27 average. The interviews conducted in the part of the country not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus are recorded in the category “CY(tcc)” [tcc: Turkish Cypriot Community]. ** Provisional code which does not prejudge in any way the definitive nomenclature for this country, which will be agreed following the conclusion of negotiations currently taking place at the United Nations.

ABBREVIATIONS EU27 European Union – 27 Member States DK/NA Don’t know / No answer BE Belgium BG Bulgaria CZ Czech Republic DK Denmark D-E East Germany DE Germany D-W West Germany EE Estonia EL Greece ES Spain FR France IE Ireland IT Italy CY Republic of Cyprus*

CY (tcc) Area not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus

LT Lithuania LV Latvia LU Luxembourg HU Hungary MT Malta NL The Netherlands AT Austria PL Poland PT Portugal RO Romania SI Slovenia SK Slovakia FI Finland SE Sweden UK The United Kingdom HR Croatia TR Turkey MK** The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia


- 7 -

1. FAMILY DISCUSSIONS

- Four out of ten Europeans have already discussed the issue of organ

donations and transplantations with their family -

Some 40% of Europeans have raised the issue of organ donation and transplantation

with their family, compared to 59% who have never broached this subject8. This

percentage is very similar to that recorded in 2006, when 41% of European Union

citizens (at that time composed of 25 countries) had discussed the issue with their

family.

EB58.2Oct.-Dec. 2002

EU15 EU25 EU15 NMS10 EU27 EU15 NMS12

Yes 46% 41% 44% 25% 40% 44% 27%

No 52% 58% 55% 73% 59% 56% 72%

Don't know 2% 1% 1% 2% 1% 0% 1%

EB66.2Oct.-Nov. 2006

QE1 Have you ever discussed human organ donation or transplantation with your family? - %

EB72.3October 2009

Despite the fact that levels of discussion of this topic in 2009 are consistent with those

reported in 2006, an analysis by country reveals a continued disparity between

results for the oldest EU Member States and the most recent ones, with the latter

generally recording lower scores for this question.

As seen in 2006, in the October 2009 wave there are significant differences in levels

recorded among countries that joined the European Union before 2004: Dutch

respondents continue to report the highest levels of discussion (74%), followed by

those in Sweden (62%), while interviewees in Portugal report low levels of discussion

(25%), as do those in Greece (32%). Notable in 2009 is the fact that the proportion of

respondents in the United Kingdom and in Finland who report discussing this topic with

their family has dropped respectively from 43% to 37% and 47% to 41%. By contrast

there have been significant increases in levels of discussion in Italy (45% up from 39%

in 2006) and Austria (37% up from 24% in 2006).

Of the countries that joined the European Union after 2004, Malta continues to stand

out as the only new Member State to record a score for organ donation family

8 QE1 Have you ever discussed human organ donation or transplantation with your family?


- 8 -

discussions in line with the European average (40%). All other recent Member States

record levels below the European average. There were, however, notable increases in

discussion levels in Slovenia (35% in 2009, up from 30% in 2006), and the Republic of

Cyprus (33% in 2009 up from 19% in 2006). The lowest (and declining) levels of

discussion are recorded among respondents in Latvia, Estonia and the Czech Republic

(15%, 17% and 18% respectively).

Results for this question in the three candidate states, Croatia, Turkey and the Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, are all in the lower range (25%, 21% and 19%

respectively), as are those in the Turkish Cypriot Community (19%).


- 9 -

A socio-demographic analysis also reveals significant differences:

Starting with gender: 44% of women said that they had discussed this subject

with their family compared to 36% of men.

Age is also a criterion that creates important differences: people aged between

25 and 54 are the most likely to discuss this topic with their family (43% of 25-

39 year olds and 45% of 40-54 year olds), while those aged 15-24 are the least

likely to broach the subject (33%). Interestingly, the oldest age group, those

aged 55 and over, remain less likely than average to discuss this topic with

their family (37%).

Occupational and educational skews are quite striking: discussion of the topic

increases significantly with education level (53% of those who have studied up

to or beyond the age of 20 compared to 32% of those who left school at age 15

or earlier) and is more prevalent among people in managerial jobs (59%) than

among unemployed people (31%), the retired (35%), students (36%) or

manual workers (39%).

A more in-depth analysis of age by education reveals that the lower levels of

discussion among the older age groups and retired people is to a degree related

to their overall lower education levels. Europeans over the age of 55 are more

likely to have left school at age 15 or earlier compared to the European average

for this level of education.

Similarly, it is no coincidence that both people in managerial positions and

those with higher education levels are more likely than average to discuss

organ donation with their families, as the two factors are intertwined.

Europeans in managerial positions are more likely to have higher education.

The key discriminator for this question is, thus, education.

Finally, financial hardship and social positioning are factors which influence

discussion levels. Respondents who have difficulty paying bills most of the time

are significantly less likely to discuss organ donation with their families,

compared to those who hardly ever experience this difficulty (31% compared to

43%), and people who rank themselves lower on the social hierarchy are less


- 10 -

likely to broach this subject than those who give themselves a high ranking

(33% compared to 46%).


- 11 -

2. REGULATION OF ORGAN DONATION AND

TRANSPLANTATION

- Just under three in ten Europeans know the regulations in their country for

the donation and transplantation of human organs -

Some 28% of Europeans are aware of laws governing the donation and transplantation

of organs in their country, it appears from a new question added in 20099. By contrast,

68% of people surveyed said they did not know such laws, and 4% could not answer

this question.

EU27 EU15 NMS12

Yes 28% 30% 21%

No 68% 67% 73%

Don't know 4% 3% 6%

EB72.3October 2009

QE2 The donation and transplantation of human organs is regulated by (NATIONALITY) law. Do you know the regulations in (OUR COUNTRY) for the donation and transplantation of human organs? - %

A geographical analysis of results reveals significant differences by country, with a

general pattern of higher awareness levels in the oldest European Union Member

States and lower levels in the most recent ones.

The highest awareness level of laws relating to organ donation is noted in the

Netherlands (64%) followed by Denmark (45%). Most other countries which joined the

European Union before 2004 record awareness levels in the 20% to 40% range, the

exceptions being Greece and Austria, where levels are considerably lower (14% and

19% respectively).

The lowest awareness levels are noted in the Czech Republic and Estonia (10% and

8% respectively), followed by Latvia and Bulgaria (both 15%). Slovakia and Romania

also report awareness levels in the lower range (16% and 18% respectively).

9 QE2 The donation and transplantation of human organs is regulated by (NATIONALITY) law. Do you know the regulations in (OUR COUNTRY) for the donation and transplantation of human organs?


- 12 -

While two of the three candidate states, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia report awareness levels in the lower range (both 18%) the other candidate

state, Croatia, falls within the average European range (32%). The awareness level of

the Turkish Cypriot Community is quite low (15%).


- 13 -

A socio-demographic analysis of awareness of laws governing organ donation and

transplantation in Europe reveals the following:

No significant differences by gender and only minimal ones by age: a slightly

higher than average percentage of 40-54 year olds (33%) reported awareness

of such laws.

Education is a key differentiator in terms of response to this question, with 40%

of Europeans educated to 20 years of age or later recording knowledge of organ

donation laws in their country. By contrast, only 21% of respondents who left

school at age 15 or earlier are aware of such laws.

Occupation also plays a role here: 41% of people in managerial positions are

aware of the laws, compared to only 26% of the retired or those taking care of

the home, 25% of manual workers, 24% of students and 19% of unemployed

people.

As noted in section 1.2 of this report, in relation to family discussion of organ

donation, education as a factor is correlated with results by age and occupation:

in this case education drives higher levels of awareness of organ donation laws

among people in managerial jobs and those under 55 years of age.

Also noted in section 1.2 was the observation that respondents experiencing

financial hardship and those who rank themselves lower on the social hierarchy

are less likely to discuss organ donation with their family. These groups are also

less likely to be aware of laws on this subject in their country. Only 20% of

people who report having difficulty paying their bills most of the time (and the

same percentage of people ranking themselves lower on the social ladder)

report awareness of organ donation laws. By contrast, 30% of people who

hardly ever experience financial hardship, and 35% of people who position

themselves higher on the social ladder, report awareness of such laws.

There is a strong association between family discussion and knowledge of laws. Of

those who have discussed organ donation and transplantation with their family, nearly

half (48%) say they know the laws governing this area in their country.


- 14 -


- 15 -

3. DONATING ONE’S OWN ORGANS

- The majority of Europeans are willing to donate one of their own organs

after their death -

Some 55% of Europeans are willing to donate one of their organs to an organ donation

service immediately after their death10. This proportion is in line with that recorded in

2006 (56%). Just over one in four is against the idea (27%), while almost one in five

felt unable to express an opinion on the topic (18%). In line with the results of the

question on family discussions, the lower than average levels of willingness noted in

new Member States is compensated by stable to increasing levels of willingness in

most other parts of Europe.

EB58.2Oct.-Dec. 2002

EU15 EU25 EU15 NMS10 EU27 EU15 NMS12

Yes 59% 56% 57% 50% 55% 57% 46%

No 22% 26% 25% 31% 27% 26% 31%

Don't know 19% 18% 18% 19% 18% 17% 23%

EB66.2Oct.-Nov. 2006

EB72.3October 2009

QE3 Would you be willing to donate one of your organs to an organ donation service immediately after your death? - %

An analysis of results by country reveals some significant differences. Continuing the

pattern observed in 2006, respondents in Northern European countries show a higher

willingness to donate their own organs. The strongest support is noted once again in

Sweden (83%), while high levels are recorded in Finland and Belgium (both 72%) and

Denmark (70%). The exception to this geographical skew is, once again, Malta where

support for organ donation is unusually high and 77% of people are willing to donate

their own organs. There has been a slight drop in support for organ donation in the

Netherlands in this latest Eurobarometer (64% compared to 69% in 2006).

At the other end of the scale, those most reluctant to donate their own organs tend to

reside in Eastern European countries, especially Latvia where the majority of people

(52%) say ‘no’ to this question, and Romania (31% saying ‘yes’ compared with 40%

saying ‘no’). In the Czech Republic, opinion is quite divided, 45% of respondents

10 QE3 Would you be willing to donate one of your organs to an organ donation service immediately after your death?


- 16 -

saying ‘yes’ and 37% saying ‘no’). Bulgaria also records one of the lowest levels of

support for organ donation (42% for and 27% against).

In Greece and Austria, interviewees are also divided on this matter (43% saying ‘yes’

and 38% ‘no’ in Greece and 39% saying ‘yes’ and 41% ‘no’ in Austria). It should be

noted that the support levels for organ donation have dropped by 10 points in Greece

(53% in 2006).

Of the candidate countries, Croatia reports average levels of support (53%) while

scores in Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are in the lower

range (32% and 26% respectively).

The most notable increases in willingness to donate one’s own organs from 2006 to

2009 are recorded in Italy, Spain and Romania (4 points), the Republic of Cyprus and

Austria (6 points).


- 17 -


- 18 -

An in-depth socio-demographic analysis does not reveal any significant differences

according to either the gender or age of interviewees. As noted in 2006, only people

aged 55 and over stand out: the percentage of this group willing to donate one of their

own organs after death is lower than the European average (49% compared to the

55% EU27 average).

Significant relationships are, however, noted between willingness to donate one’s own

organs, education level and occupation.

In line with 2006 results, people educated to age 20 or later are significantly

more likely to support organ donation (65%) than people who have left school

at age 15 or earlier (45%). Once again, just over one third of people who left

school at age 15 or earlier (35%) say they are unwilling to donate one of their

own organs after death, compared to only 18% of those educated to age 20 or

later.

Those in managerial jobs are more likely to show willingness to donate one of

their own organs than those looking after the home or unemployed people

(68% compared to 50% and 49% respectively).

As was the case with family discussion and awareness of laws about organ donation, a

more in-depth analysis of age by education and occupation levels reveals that the

lesser willingness to donate one’s own organs among the older age groups and retired

people is to a degree related to their education level, as is the greater willingness

among people in managerial jobs.

Also as noted previously, financial hardship and self-described social position are key

discriminators when it comes to attitudes relating to organ donation. Those who report

having difficulty paying bills most of the time are significantly less likely to consent to

donate one of their own organs after death than are respondents who hardly ever

experience this difficulty (48% compared to 58%). Similarly, respondents who rank

themselves lower on the social ladder are significantly less likely to consent than those

who give themselves a higher social ranking (49% compared to 59%).


- 19 -


- 20 -

- The fact that respondents have already discussed this subject with

their family has a strong influence on their willingness to donate one of

their own organs –

As noted in 2006, discussion of the issue of organ donation and transplantation with

one’s family has a strong association with willingness to donate one’s own organs after

death. Of those who have discussed the topic with their family, 76% are willing to

donate their own organs. Discussion is clearly a stronger differentiator in this area than

socio-demographic factors (education aside).

Further, people’s understanding of the laws governing organ donation is noted in 2009

as another key differentiator of support for organ donation. Of those who are aware of

the laws governing organ donation in Europe, a large percentage (77%) say they are

willing to donate their own organs after death.

Therefore, following a trend observed in 2006, the latest results are encouraging as

they point to the possibility of increasing the levels of support for organ donation in the

European Union via communication campaigns which encourage more open discussion

of the topic and better understanding of laws surrounding it. These activities should be

focused on, but not limited to, recent European Union Member States that record low

levels of both family discussion and education.


- 21 -

4. DONATING AN ORGAN FROM A DECEASED CLOSE FAMILY

MEMBER

- The majority of Europeans are not only willing to donate one of their

own organs after their death, they would also agree to donate an organ

from a deceased close family member –

Over half of Europeans (53%) would agree to donate an organ from a deceased close

family member if asked in a hospital11.

From 2002 to 2006 a significant evolution in European opinion on this particular

question was noted: the proportion of people who said they would give their consent

increased by 8 points (from 46% to 54%) over that period. In 2009, the higher level of

consent has been maintained, with only 1 point difference in the ‘yes’ responses. ‘Don’t

know’ responses have also been maintained (22% in 2009 compared to 23% in 2006).

A similar result is noted in 2009, compared to 2006, in regard to the ‘no’ answers for

the two organ donation questions (consent to donate one’s own organs after death and

consent to donate an organ from a deceased close family member). While the

percentage of people willing to donate their own organs is slightly higher than the

percentage of those willing to donate organs from a deceased close family member

(55% versus 53%), the opposite is true for refusals. The percentage of those who

would refuse consent for donation of their own organs is once again slightly higher

than the percentage of those who would refuse consent for donation of an organ from

a deceased close family member (27% versus 25%).

Finally, in regard to the difficulty of making a decision on donating one’s own organs or

those of a deceased close family member, the results are similar to those seen in

2006. Once again, the proportion of ‘don’t know’ responses for the former is lower than

the latter (18% versus 22%), suggesting less confusion about making this decision for

oneself than on behalf of others.

11 QE4 If you were asked in a hospital to donate an organ from a deceased close family member, would you agree?


- 22 -

Not surprisingly, the countries with the highest levels of consent for donation of the

organs of a deceased close family member continue to be, in 2009, the same countries

where high levels of consent for donation of one’s own organ are noted.

Sweden (73%) and Finland (72%) remain the top two pre-2004 EU countries in terms

of consent levels, recording scores very similar to those seen in 2006 (74% and 73%

respectively). Of note in 2009 is the fact that the Netherlands has dropped from third

place in consent levels (62% down from 66% in 2006), a pattern similar to that seen

in section 1.4 regarding willingness to donate one’s own organs. Malta continues to

stand out as the recent European Union Member State with an unusually high level of

consent (72%).

Among the countries that joined the European Union before 2004, two countries stand

out as having support levels for family organ donation below the European average:

Austria which has the second lowest level of acceptance at 35% (consistent with the

2006 results), and Greece where acceptance levels dropped significantly from 54% in

2006 to 41% in 2009. These two countries aside, the lowest levels of acceptance are

noted in one of the new Member States, Romania (34%), Latvia (36%) and the Czech

Republic (41%). The three candidate countries, Croatia, Turkey and the Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia all report lower than average levels of consent for

donation of the organs of deceased close family members (45%, 36% and 32%

respectively).

The most notable increases in ‘Yes’ responses to this question from 2006 to 2009 are

seen in Italy and in Bulgaria (3 points) and Lithuania (5 points).

As noted in 2006, the results in Germany are interesting: while German respondents

have levels of family discussion in line with the European average (44%) and higher

than countries that joined the European Union before 2004 such as Portugal (25%),

Greece (32%), Belgium (36%), the UK and Austria (both 37%), Spain (40%), or


- 23 -

Finland (41%), the support for organ donation in Germany (both one’s own organs and

those of deceased close family members) is considerably lower than average. While

family discussions of the topic in Germany show healthy levels, it is interesting that

knowledge of laws governing organ donation and transplantation are lower than

average in this country. In summary, it appears that encouraging open discussion of

this topic alone will not necessarily increase support levels in Germany, and that

broader changes in attitudes and increased knowledge of legal issues are required for

positive evolution in this score.


- 24 -

A socio-demographic analysis of responses shows that, in line with response to

other questions in this report, education is the strongest socio-demographic

discriminator of willingness to donate organs from deceased close family members.

Some 64% of people who studied to age 20 or later are willing to donate the organs of

deceased close family members, compared to 45% of people who left school age 15 or

younger. Following on from this (as education and occupation are intertwined as

factors), 67% of people in managerial jobs give a positive response to this question,

compared to 50% of people looking after the home, 49% of unemployed people and

48% of the retired. Unemployed people have the highest level of refusal to give

consent (30%), and people looking after the home show the highest level of indecision

(26% don’t know).

Just as people who have discussed the topic with their family tend to have higher

levels of consent for donation of their own organs, they also have higher levels of

consent for donation of the organs of deceased close family members (71% compared

to 41% of those who have not had such discussions). Similarly, knowledge and

understanding of laws governing organ donation and transplantation play a role in

raising levels of consent to donate the organs of others just as it does in relation to

one’s own organs: 73% of those who were aware of laws in their country on this topic

also showed willingness to donate the organs of close family members after their

death, compared to only 46% of those not aware of such laws).


- 25 -


- 26 -

5. REASONS FOR NOT DONATING ORGANS

- Distrust of the system and fear of manipulation of the human body are the

dominant reasons for not donating one’s own organs or those of a deceased

close family member -

Almost a third of Europeans (31%) who are unwilling to donate either their own organs

or those of a deceased close family member are unable to give a reason for their

reluctance12. Of the remainder, a quarter (25%) are fearful of manipulation of the

human body, and one in five (21%) cite distrust of the system (either the

transplantation system, consent system, and/or general social system) as a barrier to

donation. Less than one in ten Europeans (7%) do not support organ donation for

religious reasons.

12 QE5 If you would be unwilling to donate your own organs or those of a close family member what would these reasons be?


- 27 -

When we consider barriers to organ donation on a country level, significant differences

are apparent, not necessarily related to region of European Union or number of years

as a Member State.

One of the candidate countries, Turkey, stands out as the place where respondents are

most likely to be reluctant to donate organs for religious reasons (29%). Other

countries where respondents are more likely to be reluctant to donate organs for

religious reasons (compared to the European average) are Romania (17%), Austria

(15%), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (12%), and Slovakia (11%).

Distrust of the system, on the other hand, is more prevalent as a barrier in Greece

(45%), the Czech Republic (33%), Slovakia (31%) and Italy (30%).

People in the Czech Republic are also more likely to cite fear of manipulation of the

human body as a barrier to donation (45%), as are the citizens of Poland (36%),

Latvia (35%), Slovakia and the Republic of Cyprus (both 33%).

Confusion about reasons for not donating organs is most prevalent in Malta: of the

relatively low proportion of people who do not support organ donation in that country,

the majority (76%) say they don’t know why. A similarly high proportion of ‘don’t

know’ answers is noted in Ireland (64%), Finland (53%), Estonia (52%), and the two

newest Member States, Bulgaria and Romania (both 48%).


- 28 -

There were no significant socio-demographic differences in reasons for withholding

consent to organ donation.


- 29 -

CONCLUSIONS

While the majority of European citizens support organ donation, with 55% expressing

their willingness to donate their own organs after death and 53% willing to consent to

donate organs of deceased close family members, the level of support has not

increased at a EU level in the latest Eurobarometer, which is a matter of concern since

the demand for donors is rapidly accelerating.

Support levels for organ donation are generally higher in the countries that joined the

European Union prior to 2004 than they are in the Member States that joined after

2004 (with the notable exception of Malta). The exceptions to this pattern are

observed in Greece and Austria which have low levels of support. It should be noted,

however, that there has been an increase in the level of family discussion and

willingness to donate one’s own organs in Austria between 2006 and 2009; an

encouraging trend. Improvements have also been observed in Italy on all levels (family

discussions, willingness to donate one’s own organs after death, and willingness to

consent to donate the organs of deceased family members).

As noted in this report, and the preceding Eurobarometer, discussion of this topic with

one’s family is positively correlated with support for organ donation. It is not

surprising, then, that as discussion levels have "plateaued" between 2006 and 2009,

so has willingness to consent to donate one’s own organs.

Aside from family discussions, education level is also noted as a key factor influencing

support for organ donation. Further, this factor is intertwined with a number of others,

including the fact that certain age groups (those aged 55 and over) and regions of

Europe (some of the more recent European Union Member States in particular), which

have had more limited access to higher education, tend to exhibit lower levels of

discussion, awareness and support generally for organ donation.

Finally, financial hardship appears to be a barrier to support for organ donation. Those

who have difficulty paying their bills are less likely to talk about this subject or to give

their consent to donation of their own organs or those of a deceased close family

member.

ANNEXES

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER N°333a “Organ donation and transplantation”

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Between the 2nd and the 19th of October 2009, TNS Opinion & Social, a consortium created between TNS plc and TNS opinion, carried out wave 72.3 of the EUROBAROMETER, on request of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Directorate-General for Communication, “Research and Speechwriting”. The SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER N°333a is part of wave 72.3 and covers the population of the respective nationalities of the European Union Member States, resident in each of the Member States and aged 15 years and over. The EUROBAROMETER 72.3 has also been conducted in the three candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and in the Turkish Cypriot Community. In these countries, the survey covers the national population of citizens and the population of citizens of all the European Union Member States that are residents in these countries and have a sufficient command of the national languages to answer the questionnaire. The basic sample design applied in all states is a multi-stage, random (probability) one. In each country, a number of sampling points was drawn with probability proportional to population size (for a total coverage of the country) and to population density. In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically from each of the "administrative regional units", after stratification by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole territory of the countries surveyed according to the EUROSTAT NUTS II (or equivalent) and according to the distribution of the resident population of the respective nationalities in terms of metropolitan, urban and rural areas. In each of the selected sampling points, a starting address was drawn, at random. Further addresses (every Nth address) were selected by standard "random route" procedures, from the initial address. In each household, the respondent was drawn, at random (following the "closest birthday rule"). All interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes and in the appropriate national language. As far as the data capture is concerned, CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) was used in those countries where this technique was available.

COUNTRIES INSTITUTES N°

INTERVIEWS FIELDWORK

DATES POPULATION

15+ ABBREVIATIONS

BE Belgium TNS Dimarso 1.001 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 8.866.411 BG Bulgaria TNS BBSS 1.000 02/10/2009 12/10/2009 6.584.957 CZ Czech Rep. TNS Aisa 1.066 02/10/2009 15/10/2009 8.987.535 DK Denmark TNS Gallup DK 1.040 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 4.503.365 DE Germany TNS Infratest 1.550 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 64.545.601 EE Estonia Emor 1.011 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 916.000 IE Ireland TNS MRBI 1.008 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 3.375.399 EL Greece TNS ICAP 1.000 03/10/2009 19/10/2009 8.693.566 ES Spain TNS Demoscopia 1.003 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 39.059.211 FR France TNS Sofres 1.000 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 47.620.942 IT Italy TNS Infratest 1.032 02/10/2009 17/10/2009 51.252.247 CY Rep. of Cyprus Synovate 503 02/10/2009 17/10/2009 651.400

CY(tcc) Turkish Cypriot Comm. KADEM 500 02/10/2009 16/10/2009 143.226 LV Latvia TNS Latvia 1.018 03/10/2009 18/10/2009 1.448.719 LT Lithuania TNS Gallup Lithuania 1.026 02/10/2009 16/10/2009 2.849.359 LU Luxembourg TNS ILReS 513 05/10/2009 16/10/2009 404.907 HU Hungary TNS Hungary 1.044 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 8.320.614 MT Malta MISCO 500 02/10/2009 17/10/2009 335.476 NL Netherlands TNS NIPO 1.007 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 13.288.200 AT Austria Österreichisches Gallup-Institut 1.005 02/10/2009 16/10/2009 6.973.277 PL Poland TNS OBOP 1.000 03/10/2009 19/10/2009 32.306.436 PT Portugal TNS EUROTESTE 1.031 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 8.080.915 RO Romania TNS CSOP 1.010 02/10/2009 15/10/2009 18.246.731 SI Slovenia RM PLUS 1.031 02/10/2009 19/10/2009 1.748.308 SK Slovakia TNS AISA SK 1.006 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 4.549.954 FI Finland TNS Gallup Oy 1.017 02/10/2009 19/10/2009 4.412.321 SE Sweden TNS GALLUP 1.012 02/10/2009 19/10/2009 7.723.931 UK United Kingdom TNS UK 1.354 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 51.081.866 HR Croatia Puls 1.000 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 3.749.400 TR Turkey TNS PIAR 1.004 02/10/2009 18/10/2009 52.728.513 MK Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia TNS Brima 1.000 02/10/2009 12/10/2009 1.678.404

TOTAL 30.292 02/10/2009 19/10/2009 465.127.191

For each country a comparison between the sample and the universe was carried out. The Universe description was derived from Eurostat population data or from national statistics offices. For all countries surveyed, a national weighting procedure, using marginal and intercellular weighting, was carried out based on this Universe description. In all countries, gender, age, region and size of locality were introduced in the iteration procedure. For international weighting (i.e. EU averages), TNS Opinion & Social applies the official population figures as provided by EUROSTAT or national statistic offices. The total population figures for input in this post-weighting procedure are listed above. Readers are reminded that survey results are estimations, the accuracy of which, everything being equal, rests upon the sample size and upon the observed percentage. With samples of about 1,000 interviews, the real percentages vary within the following confidence limits:

Observed percentages 10% or 90% 20% or 80% 30% or 70% 40% or 60% 50%

Confidence limits ± 1.9 points ± 2.5 points ± 2.7 points ± 3.0 points ± 3.1 points

QUESTIONNAIRE

QE1 QE1

1 12 23 3

QE2 QE2

1 12 23 3

QE3 QE3

1 12 23 3

Oui Non NSP

EB66.2 QB36

NOUVEAU

Seriez-vous prêt(e) à donner un de vos organes à un service de don d’organes tout de suite après votre mort ?

OuiNonNSP

NSP

EB66.2 QB35

Le don et la transplantation d’organes humains est régit par la loi (NATIONALITE). Connaissez-vous les lois en (NOTRE PAYS) pour le don et la transplantation d’organes ?

Avez-vous déjà discuté du don ou de la transplantation d’organes humains avec votre famille ?

OuiNon

Parlons maintenant d'un autre sujet.

POSER QE EN UE27 + CY(tcc) + HR + MK + TR

Yes No DK

EB66.2 QB36

NEW

Would you be willing to donate one of your organs to an organ donation service immediately after your death?

YesNoDK

DK

EB66.2 QB35

The donation and transplantation of human organs is regulated by (NATIONALITY) law. Do you know the regulations in (OUR COUNTRY) for the donation and transplantation of human organs?

Have you ever discussed human organ donation or transplantation with your family?

YesNo

Now let's talk about another topic.

ASK QE TO EU27 + CY(tcc) + HR + MK + TR

QuestionnaireEB723 37/54 22/09/2009

QE4 QE4

1 12 23 3

QE5 QE5

1 1

2 23 34 45 5

QE6 QE6

1 12 23 3

NonNSP

EB58.2 Q59

POSER QE6 ET QE7 UNIQUEMENT EN UE27 - LES AUTRES ALLER AUX DEMOGRAPHIQUES

Avez-vous déjà donné votre sang ?

Oui

La peur de la manipulation du corps humainAutres (SPONTANE)NSP

NOUVEAU

Si vous n’étiez pas disposé(e) à donner vos organes ou ceux d’un membre de votre famille proche, quelles en seraient les raisons ?

(LIRE – UNE SEULE REPONSE)

Des raisons religieusesDe la méfiance envers le système (cela peut inclure le système de transplantation, le système de consentement ou en général le système de la société)

NonNSP

EB66.2 QB37

A l’hôpital, si on vous le demandait, donneriez-vous votre accord pour le don d’un organe d’un parent proche décédé ?

Oui

NoDK

EB58.2 Q59

ASK QE6 AND QE7 ONLY IN EU27 - OTHERS GO TO DEMOGRAPHICS

Have you given blood before?

Yes

Scare of manipulation of the human bodyOthers (SPONTANEOUS)DK

NEW

If you would be unwilling to donate your organs or those of a close family member what would these reasons be?

(READ OUT – ONE ANSWER ONLY)

Religious reasonsDistrust in the system (this could include the transplantation system, consent system or in general the society system)

NoDK

EB66.2 QB37

If you were asked in a hospital to donate an organ from a deceased close family member, would you agree?

Yes

QuestionnaireEB723 38/54 22/09/2009

TABLES

Special Eurobarometer 333a – Organ donation and transplantation

1ère colonne: EB72 automne 2009EU27 UE27

EU25 UE25

2ème colonne: % changement par rapport à EB66 automne 2006

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

Oui 40 -1 36 -2 22 0 18 -1 58 0 44 0 44 +2 44 +11 17 -3 40 0 32 -4 40 -5Non 59 +1 64 +2 76 -1 82 +2 42 +1 56 +1 56 -1 56 -10 83 +4 59 0 68 +4 60 +8NSP 1 0 0 0 2 +1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 1 0 0 0 0 -3

1st column: EB72 autumn 20092nd column: % change from EB66 autumn 2006 EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2Yes 49 +2 45 +6 33 +14 19 -3 15 -10 31 +2 46 +4 29 +4 40 -2 74 -1 37 +13 32 +6No 51 -2 54 -3 67 -13 79 +3 84 +9 68 -2 53 -4 71 -4 60 +2 26 +1 63 -12 67 -5DK 0 0 1 -3 0 -1 2 0 1 +1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -1 1 -1

Erste Spalte: EB72 Herbst 2009 TR MKZweite Spalte: % Veränderungen im Vergleich zu EB66 Herbst 2006

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB72.3

Ja 25 -3 22 +6 35 +5 29 -1 41 -6 62 -4 37 -6 25 -5 21 19Nein 74 +3 76 -6 64 -6 71 +2 59 +6 38 +4 62 +5 74 +5 78 81WN 1 0 2 0 1 +1 0 -1 0 0 0 0 1 +1 1 0 1 0

QE1 Avez-vous déjà discuté du don ou de la transplantation d’organes humains avec votre famille ?QE1 Have you ever discussed human organ donation or transplantation with your family?QE1 Haben Sie mit Ihrer Familie schon einmal über Organspende oder Organtransplantation gesprochen?

LV LT LU

BE BG CZ DK D-W DE

FR IT CY CY (tcc) HU

IE EL ESD-E EE

FI SE UK HRPT RO SI SK

MT NL AT PL


UE27EU27

BE BG CZ DK D-W DE D-E EE IE EL ES

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

Oui 28 33 15 10 45 27 28 30 8 25 14 21Non 68 67 80 88 53 69 69 68 91 70 85 76NSP 4 0 5 2 2 4 3 2 1 5 1 3

FR IT CYCY

(tcc)LV LT LU HU MT NL AT

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

Yes 33 36 27 15 15 36 20 23 29 64 19No 66 57 69 71 83 61 78 76 69 34 77DK 1 7 4 14 2 3 2 1 2 2 4

PL PT RO SI SK FI SE UK HR TR MKEB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3Ja 27 22 18 33 16 29 33 23 32 18 18Nein 65 74 73 66 82 70 65 74 66 79 78WN 8 4 9 1 2 1 2 3 2 3 4

QE2 Le don et la transplantation d’organes humains est régi par la loi (NATIONALITE). Connaissez-vous les lois en (NOTRE PAYS) pour le don et la transplantation d’organes ? QE2 The donation and transplantation of human organs is regulated by (NATIONALITY) law. Do you know the regulations in (OUR COUNTRY) for the donation and transplantation of human organs? QE2 Organspenden und -transplantationen werden durch das (NATIONALITÄT) Recht geregelt. Kennen Sie die rechtlichen Bestimmungen für die Spende und Transplantation von Organen in (UNSERE LAND)?



EU25 UE25


EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

Oui 55 -1 72 +1 42 +2 45 +1 70 +1 45 -2 47 +1 51 +4 55 -3 64 -3 43 -10 61 +4Non 27 +1 22 -1 27 -4 37 -2 13 -5 32 +2 31 0 28 -4 30 +7 13 -3 38 +1 21 +5NSP 18 0 6 0 31 +2 18 +1 17 +4 23 0 22 -1 21 0 15 -4 23 +6 19 +9 18 -9


72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2Yes 66 -1 49 +4 63 +6 51 -1 25 -4 50 +2 62 0 53 +2 77 +2 64 -5 39 +6 53 +2No 20 0 29 -1 21 +5 23 -5 52 -7 27 -1 17 -8 29 -4 8 -2 23 +4 41 -6 25 -2DK 14 +1 22 -3 16 -11 26 +6 23 +11 23 -1 21 +8 18 +2 15 0 13 +1 20 0 22 0


EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB72.3

Ja 60 -6 31 +4 62 -1 48 -2 72 -1 83 +2 61 -2 53 -2 32 26Nein 20 0 40 -6 19 -3 35 0 18 0 9 +1 26 +1 28 +2 53 53WN 20 +6 29 +2 19 +4 17 +2 10 +1 8 -3 13 +1 19 0 15 21

QE3 Seriez-vous prêt(e) à donner un de vos organes à un service de don d’organes tout de suite après votre mort ? QE3 Would you be willing to donate one of your organs to an organ donation service immediately after your death? QE3 Wären Sie bereit, sofort nach Ihrem Tod eines Ihrer Organe einer Vermittlungsstelle für Spenderorgane zur Verfügung zu stellen?

LV LT LU

BE BG CZ DK D-W DE


IE EL ESD-E EE


MT NL AT PL



EU25 UE25


EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

Oui 53 -1 67 +2 44 +3 41 +1 61 -2 45 -2 46 0 48 +2 51 -2 58 +1 41 -13 59 0Non 25 +2 26 -2 22 -5 37 +1 19 -2 32 +5 31 +3 29 +1 30 +9 12 -4 34 +1 19 +9NSP 22 -1 7 0 34 +2 22 -2 20 +4 23 -3 23 -3 23 -3 19 -7 30 +3 25 +12 22 -9


72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2EB

72.3EB

66.2Yes 61 0 42 +3 55 +2 52 -6 36 -2 53 +5 58 -4 49 0 72 +1 62 -4 35 0 57 -1No 22 -1 27 -2 22 +6 18 -3 37 -6 22 -2 19 -7 27 -5 7 -3 24 +4 39 -4 18 -3DK 17 +1 31 -1 23 -8 30 +9 27 +8 25 -3 23 +11 24 +5 21 +2 14 0 26 +4 25 +4


EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB66.2

EB72.3

EB72.3

Ja 57 -6 34 +2 56 -3 47 +1 72 -1 73 -1 64 +1 45 -8 36 32Nein 19 -3 35 -2 20 -1 31 -3 16 -1 12 +3 20 +2 30 +5 46 47WN 24 +9 31 0 24 +4 22 +2 12 +2 15 -2 16 -3 25 +3 18 21

QE4 A l’hôpital, si on vous le demandait, donneriez-vous votre accord pour le don d’un organe d’un parent proche décédé ? QE4 If you were asked in a hospital to donate an organ from a deceased close family member, would you agree? QE4 Wenn Sie im Krankenhaus gefragt würden, würden Sie Ihre Zustimmung zur Organentnahme bei einem verstorbenen Angehörigen geben?

LV LT LU

BE BG CZ DK D-W DE


IE EL ESD-E EE


MT NL AT PL


UE27EU27

BE BG CZ DK D-W DE D-E EE IE EL ES

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

Des raisons religieuses 7 7 4 6 3 8 7 5 7 3 10 6De la méfiance envers le système (cela peut inclure le système de transplantation, le système de consentement ou en général le système de la société) 21 20 26 33 7 25 26 28 14 10 45 15La peur de la manipulation du corps humain 25 29 19 45 8 19 19 20 22 11 31 25Autres (SPONTANE) 16 21 3 5 45 20 20 19 5 12 6 22NSP 31 23 48 11 37 28 28 28 52 64 8 32

FR IT CYCY

(tcc)LV LT LU HU MT NL AT

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

EB72.3

Religious reasons 6 10 9 7 7 9 5 8 1 5 15Distrust in the system (this could include the transplantation system, consent system or in general the society system) 16 30 18 43 26 17 10 24 3 17 24Scare of manipulation of the human body 27 29 33 14 35 27 27 26 16 24 32Other (SPONTANEOUS) 19 7 7 0 8 24 44 9 4 30 13DK 32 24 33 36 24 23 14 33 76 24 16

PL PT RO SI SK FI SE UK HR TR MKEB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3EB

72.3Religiöse Gründe 6 9 17 3 11 1 5 4 5 29 12Misstrauen in das System (z.B. Misstrauen in Transplantationen an sich, in das System der Zustimmung zur Organspende oder generelles Misstrauen in das Gesellschaftssystem) 18 28 15 21 31 6 13 12 18 15 16Angst vor der Manipulation des menschlichen Körpers 36 20 11 16 33 8 17 25 27 27 33Sonstiges (SPONTAN) 11 6 9 43 9 32 29 22 10 6 5WN 29 37 48 17 16 53 36 37 40 23 34

QE5 Si vous n’étiez pas disposé(e) à donner vos organes ou ceux d’un membre de votre famille proche, quelles en seraient les raisons ? QE5 If you would be unwilling to donate your organs or those of a close family member what would these reasons be? QE5 Falls Sie nicht bereit wären, Ihre Organe oder die naher Angehöriger zu spenden, was wäre der Grund dafür?

fieldwork: october 2009 - european...

Documents