02945nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001100001200042700001200054700001400066700001200080700001300092700001300105700001500118700001400133700001400147700001600161245008600177250001500263300000800278490000700286520236400293020004602657       2011                            d1 aRose J.1 aWong G.1 aCass Alan1 aTong A.1 aAllen R.1 aCraig J.1 aChadban S.1 aIrving M.1 aHoward K.1 aJan Stephen00aCommunity Preferences for the Allocation & Donation of Organs - The PAraDOx Study  a2011/05/27  a3860 v113 a<p>
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Transplantation is the treatment of choice for people with severe organ failure. However, demand substantially exceeds supply of suitable organs; consequently many people wait months, or years to receive an organ. Reasons for the chronic shortage of deceased organ donations are unclear; there appears to be no lack of 'in principle' public support for organ donation. METHODS: The PAraDOx Study examines community preferences for organ donation policy in Australia. The aims are to 1) determine which factors influence decisions by individuals to offer their organs for donation and 2) determine the criteria by which the community deems the allocation of donor organs to be fair and equitable. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to assess community preferences for organ donation and allocation. Focus group participants from the general community, aged between 18-80, will be purposively sampled to ensure a variety of cultural backgrounds and views on organ donation. Each focus group will include a ranking exercise using a modified nominal group technique. Focus groups of organ recipients, their families, and individuals on a transplant waiting list will also be conducted. Using the qualitative work, a discrete choice study will be designed to quantitatively assess community preferences. Discrete choice methods are based on the premise that goods and services can be described in terms of a number of separate attributes. Respondents are presented with a series of choices where levels of attributes are varied, and a mathematical function is estimated to describe numerically the value respondents attach to different options. Two community surveys will be conducted in approximately 1000 respondents each to assess community preferences for organ donation and allocation. A mixed logit model will be used; model results will be expressed as parameter estimates (beta) and the odds of choosing one option over an alternative. Trade-offs between attributes will also be calculated. DISCUSSION: By providing a better understanding of current community preferences in relation to organ donation and allocation, the PAraDOx study will highlight options for firstly, increasing the rate of organ donation and secondly, allow for more transparent and equitable policies in relation to organ allocation.
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