Examining the association between media coverage of organ donation and organ transplantation rates

Abstract

Research addressing the organ shortage in the USA has examined multiple factors influencing one's decision to become an organ donor. One of these research lines addresses media coverage of organ donation. The present investigation seeks to advance this research line by examining the association between organ donation media coverage and organ transplantation rates. A content analysis spanning January 1990 to December 2005 of three television networks reveals an overall positive association between coverage and transplantation rates. The implications of our findings are discussed along with recommendations for practitioners and advocates alike.

Student and community perceptions about organ donors, non‐donors and transplant recipients

“…Such perceptions, however, do not occur without being influenced by the information most readily available to the individual, including popular media such as television, magazines and newspapers (Garcia, Goldani, & Neumann, 1997;Quick et al, 2007). Accordingly, it is difficult to determine if these perceptions are truly representative of participants' own personal views about the type of person receiving organ transplants or merely a reflection of the latest media coverage about organ donation which often sensationalizes cases that can be detrimental to positive organ donation beliefs (e.g.…”

A 15-Year Review of ABC, CBS, and NBC News Coverage of Organ Donation: Implications for Organ Donation Campaigns

“…In search of solutions, research on organ donation has explored individual differences between potential donors and nondonors, including age (Siminoff, Gordon, Hewlett, & Arnold, 2001), altruism (Morgan & Miller, 2002a), ethnicity (Morgan, 2004;Morgan, Miller, & Arasaratnam, 2003), knowledge (Feeley & Servoss, 2005;Weber et al, 2006), normative 138 QUICK, KIM, AND MEYER influences (Morgan & Miller, 2002b), and sex (Thompson, Robinson, & Kenny, 2003) on outcome variables such as attitudes, willingness to communicate about organ donation, and intentions of becoming a potential donor. In addition, research has studied health campaigns designed to raise awareness about organ donation (Morgan, Miller, Arasaratnam, 2002;Weber et al, 2006), the persuasiveness of certain message features (Feeley, Marshall, & Reinhart, 2006;Kopfman, Smith, Morrison, Massi, & Yoo, 2002), and media portrayals of organ donation (Feeley & Vincent, 2007;Morgan, Harrison, Chewning, DiCorcia, & Davis, 2007;Quick et al, 2007). Despite these efforts, the organ shortage in the United States has reached a critical stage (UNOS, 2007).…”

Do the myths still exist? Revisiting people’s negative beliefs about organ donation upon death

“…Approximately half of undecided and non-donor respondents were neutral about or agreed with the statements that wealthy people and celebrities are moved to the top of the list faster than regular people for transplants (52.7% non-donor and 57.5% undecided), racial discrimination prevents people from receiving the transplants they need (63.1% non-donor and 48.9% undecided), and that their organs might be placed into an undesirable person (52.6% non-donor and 72.4% undecided). The neutral or positive support for these beliefs may reflect controversial instances promoted by the media (Quick et al, 2007) such as the recent case involving the young mother who was denied a second transplant after her first transplant failed due to continued drug use. Alternatively, endorsement of these beliefs could be due to a lack of awareness about the process of organ allocation to recipients in Australia (Hyde & White, 2009).…”