It’s all relative: Increasing organ donor registration intentions by maximizing family-relevant vested interest

Abstract

Guided by vested interest theory, the impact of educating potential organ donors about the beneficial experiences afforded to families of deceased donors was assessed. Participants were informed about these benefits by taking a survey that asked them to indicate both their awareness, and the appeal, of numerous existing benefits (e.g. grief services). We employed a double-sided mixed design. Both the true experimental design and the quasi-experimental repeated assessment indicated increased registration intentions. Only the quasi-experimental design indicated significant attitude change. This study provides evidence supporting the potential utility of focusing interventions on the benefits afforded to donor families.

Organ donation and departments of motor vehicles: Multiple messages, implementations, and replications.

“…As noted, scholars rarely have assessed the potential of focusing interventions on the broad range of benefits to the family; however, previously conducted studies highlight the potential of this approach. For example, Siegel and colleagues (2021) conducted an experimental study that informed participants of a large range of benefits afforded to donor families. Participants reported higher levels of registration intentions compared to a control condition.…”

“…The messages were not pilot tested, but the efficacy and altruism messages mirrored language from a prior intervention (Siegel, Alvaro, Crano, et al, 2008) and are in line with messaging commonly found on donor websites (www.organdonor.gov). The vested interest messaging was derived from focus groups conducted for this project and a survey of nondonors focused on the family benefits perceived as most important (Siegel et al, 2021). The control condition did not have any donor-specific content.…”

“…This appeal drew upon data collected at New Mexico DMVs which assessed beliefs about benefits experienced by donor families. These unpublished data were collected solely for this intervention, but the questionnaires used were similar to a prior study (i.e., Siegel et al, 2021). The tagline was “Most agree, it helps my family” (see mvddonorproject.org for all materials).…”

“…Yet, this approach may hold promise. For example, an experimental study that provided information on family benefits increased registration intentions compared to a control group (Siegel et al, 2021).…”

“…This appeal sought to increase visitors' vested interest in donor registration by highlighting the positive experiences afforded to donor families (Siegel et al, 2021). The meta-analysis indicated a significant effect across the four studies; however, differences between the studies offer the most striking evidence of the influence played by appeal implementation.…”