Attitudes and Beliefs Concerning Organ Donation Among Native Americans in the Upper Midwest

Because of increasing access to renal replacement therapy and the high incidence of renal disease among Native Americans largely due to type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is important to determine attitudes and beliefs in this population toward organ donation. In a study conducted on reservations in the upper Midwest during traditional powwows and health fairs, it was discovered that willingness to donate was more likely to occur if Native Americans were approached by a healthcare worker from their culture, if they had already signed a donor card, or if they knew someone with diabetes. Willingness to be a living donor (81%) was greater than willingness to donate after death (i.e., as a cadaveric donor) (54%). These findings indicate that cultural-specific information about organ failure rates and organ donation, when presented by knowledgeable individuals within the culture, could increase donation in the Native American population.