Puerto Rican Population Residing in Florida: Attitude Towards Organ Xenotransplantation.

INTRODUCTION

Puerto Ricans are one of the majority immigration groups in Florida. However, little is known about their attitudes toward xenotransplantation (XenoTx), a still experimental technique, which is making significant progress.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the attitude toward XenoTx of organs among the population of Puerto Rican residents in Florida.

METHODS

Population under study. Sample taken from the International Collaborative Donor Project and formed by the population born in Puerto Rico and resident in Florida.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Over 15 years stratified by age and sex. Instrument valuation. Validated questionnaire of attitude toward xenotransplantation "PCID-XenoTx-Ríos." Setting for the study. Random selection of people to survey based on stratification. Immigrant assistance associations in Florida were consulted to locate potential respondents.

RESULTS

Of the 259 respondents, 16% are in favor of XenoTx if the results are similar to those obtained with human organs, 74% are against, and 10% are doubtful. If the results are worse than with human organs, only 2% are in favor, 74% against, and 24% undecided. The variables that are associated with this attitude are the following: sex (P = .001); marital status (P < .001); have offspring (P = .004); level of education (P < .001), opinion of a partner toward donation (P = .008), religious beliefs (P < .001), knowing the opinion toward donation of religion (P < .001), prosocial activity (P < .001), attitude toward donation (P ≤ .001), previous relationship with donation (P < .001), possibility of receiving a transplant in the future (P = .001), and attitude toward donation to a relative (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The Puerto Rican population residing in Florida does not hold a favorable attitude toward xenotransplantation.