Centre for Early Learning in Medicine, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Institute for Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Science, Zurich, Switzerland.
Anat Sci Educ. 2018 Nov;11(6):623-631. doi: 10.1002/ase.1796. Epub 2018 May 15.
Individuals who register as body donors do so for various reasons, with aiding medical science a common motivation. Despite awareness of several key reasons for donation, there are few in-depth explorations of these motivations to contextualize persons' reasons for donating. This study undertakes a mixed-method exploration of motivations for body donation to facilitate deeper understanding of the reasons underpinning donor registration. A survey of all newly registered body donors at a New Zealand university was performed over a single year. The survey included basic demographic information, a categorical question on reason for donation, a free-text question on donation motivation, and a free-text question allowing "other" comments on body donation. Basic statistical analysis was performed on demographic and categorical data, and thematic analysis used on free-text responses. From 169 registrants, 126 people (average age 70.5 years; 72 female) returned completed surveys (response rate 75%). Categorical data indicate a primary motivation of aiding medical science (86%). Fifty-one respondents (40%) provided free-text data on motivation, with other comments related to motivation provided by forty-one (33%). Common themes included reference to usefulness, uniqueness (pathophysiology and anatomy), gift-giving, kinship, and impermanence of the physical body. Consistent with previous studies, the primary reason for body donation was aiding medical science, however underpinning this was a complex layer of themes and sub-themes shaping motivations for choices. Findings provide important information that can guide development of robust informed consent processes, aid appropriate thanksgiving service delivery, and further contextualize the importance of medical professionals in body donation culture.
个人注册为遗体捐献者的原因各不相同，其中帮助医学科学是常见的动机。尽管人们已经意识到捐献的几个主要原因，但很少有深入探讨这些动机的情况，以说明人们捐献的原因。本研究采用混合方法探索遗体捐献的动机，以促进对捐赠者注册背后原因的更深入理解。在新西兰一所大学，对所有新注册的遗体捐献者进行了为期一年的调查。该调查包括基本人口统计信息、关于捐献原因的类别问题、关于捐献动机的自由文本问题，以及允许对遗体捐献发表“其他”意见的自由文本问题。对人口统计和类别数据进行了基本的统计分析，并对自由文本回答进行了主题分析。在 169 名注册者中，有 126 人（平均年龄 70.5 岁；72 名女性）返回了完整的调查问卷（应答率为 75%）。类别数据表明，主要动机是帮助医学科学（86%）。51 名受访者（40%）提供了关于动机的自由文本数据，另外 41 名受访者（33%）提供了与动机相关的其他评论。常见的主题包括对有用性、独特性（病理生理学和解剖学）、送礼、亲情以及身体的短暂性的提及。与之前的研究一致，遗体捐献的主要原因是帮助医学科学，但在此基础上，还有一系列复杂的主题和子主题构成了选择的动机。研究结果提供了重要信息，可以指导制定强有力的知情同意程序，帮助提供适当的感恩服务，并进一步说明医学专业人员在遗体捐献文化中的重要性。
