China Citizens Culture Psychology Research Of Organ Donation

ObjectivesThe short supply of organs for organ transplant and the supply and demand contradiction are the common issues facing many countries in the world. The call for voluntary donation from citizens after death is of crucial significance for the healthy development of the organ transplant technology. This study was designed to explore the integrity of the cultural psychological factors upon Chinese citizens’organ donation willingness, including figuring out citizens’voluntary donation status, and showing cultural psychological topics involving organ donation, and analyzing the reasons, factors and decisive factor of emerging of donation will, which leads to summing the mechanism of cultural psychology affecting citizens’donation willingness. It then tries to construct a psychological model of Chinese citizens concerning organ donation so as to providetheoretical and practical basis for building a local culture-based scientific organ donation system, and formulating precisely targeted policies and promotional strategies of organ donation.MethodologyThis paper adopts the cultural psychologic perspective as an important angle observing human behaviors. In this qualitative observational study, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews and theoretical analysis to explore the cultural psychological factors. First, the author carried out a phenomenological study by creating a scenario where a dilemma situation is presented to the participants along with scenario adaption, repeated suspension and restoration. Second, by collecting personal information of organ donor volunteers and giving in-depth interview to volunteers, the author drew on the grounded theory and constructed the psychological model on organ donation under the background of the Chinese culture. The paper also probed into the superficial and underlying components of the cultural psychological structure about organ donation by the means of seeking theoretical sources. Finally, based on the findings of the current study the author proposed some solutions and suggestions on organ donation system, publicity and policy making.ResultStudy 1 Statistics of Guangdong Province household volunteer groups for organ donation show:higher ratio women (than men) have registered to donate; The majority of volunteers are between age 20 to 40; Most of them have college or bachelor’s degrees; People with religious belief accounts for 13.26%; Regional difference indicated by where volunteers registered accords with regional economic development. Most volunteers are employees or students. Television, newspaper, radio, magazines and other mainstream media are the major channels for people to know about organ donation. The majority of people are for donation of all organs and some are for donation of particular organ (s). More than a half of the volunteers have obtained approval from their parents or other family members while 40.51% have not. Study 2 This thesis summarizes five sub-topics surrounding organ donation psychology that are related to Chinese culture:death, meaning, deprivation, taboo, and social support. Mentalities that boost organ donation include: a death attitude that death is natural ordeath might be different, to assign meaning to the deed of organ donation (being beneficial to individuals themselves, others and the society); mentalities that hinder organ donation include:a death attitude that avoids, dreads death and worry about deprivation or shame, a desire for more social support before actions and respect to one’s decisions from family, especially from closestfamily members. This thesis discloses that additional benefits of organ donation may change the meaning thereof fundamentally, which leads to the change of one’s will to donate. Study 3 Based on the in-depth interview given to the organ donation volunteers, a psychological model "life extension by finding the meaning of existence" was constructed. The model illustrates that the volunteers seek existence based on body and spirit through the deed of organ donating, and hence overcome the fear of death, and express their appeal for living, as well as complete the mental path "life extension by finding the meaning of existence"Study 4 The theoretical analysis of the superficial and underlying component of organ donation psychology leads to the following findings. First, Chinese people’s avoidance of the topic or act of organ donation is substantially the fear of death which would motivate people to seek a spiritual habitat. Second, the Ontology that combines mind-body dualism (the Cartesian dualism) and Congruence which are two different view of body that lead to different attitudes toward human body organs should be distinguished and put into proper application. Third, the meaning of existence through death provides us a new way of existence that overcome the fear of death. In the traditional Chinese culture, each philosophic interpretation of living and the Logotherapy in existential psychology could shed light on the possible operative model for this new way of existence.Study 5 This study proposes these solutions and suggestions on organ donation in China:Efforts should be made to enhance life education for citizens to adopt a positive death attitude; We should attach importance to existential experience; We should strengthen the existential meaning of individuals and create a fully supportive social atmosphere; Promoting mutual understanding and respect within family regarding organ donation is one of the priorities under the Chinese background. So it is recommended in the public organization management level:relying on Chinese cultural background, respecting citizens’psychological needs, precisely directing public promotion, and improving organ donation system. It is recommended in the specialized staff level:getting familiar with Chinese various localized cultural customs and traditions, paying attention to understand each concept of body, showing full respect for individual personality, and treating everyone accordingly. It is recommended in the individual citizen level:being aware of aging and death, and making early plan as well as improving the present life.ConclusionConclusion 1 The variety of age and education level of sample of the organ donation registry group proves difference, however to understand the mechanism requires further efforts. Organ donors’families are their vital backup, so relatively low affirmative rate should be noticed. Propagation and promotion of organ donation could be better encouraged, especially internet and new media would play bigger role. Organ donor volunteers’individual wills should be respected, and distinguished ones are worthy of more attention.Conclusion 2 The fear of death, the body-mind relation and social support are the major cultural mentalities that affect the donating of organs by citizens. Therefore, the Chinese cultural psychology background should be recognized and respected. Life education should be enhanced for citizens to adopt a positive death attitude and seek in death the meaning of existence. Conclusion 3 Under Chinese traditional culture and background, due to taboo caused by fear of death, and the anxiety caused by fear of the loss of physical integrity, willingness to donate shrink; it’s a way out for an individual citizen to add special meaning to carry out organ donation, which help to raise psychological support to willingness to make donations, in order to boost making up the mind, overcoming fear and anxiety mood.Conclusion 4 Death attitudes and relationships between body and mind are both important cultural and psychological factors affecting willingness toward Organ Donation. Holding positive or natural death attitude, and physical-mental dualistic outlook can promote organ donation. Holding negative death attitude, and physical-mental monism hinders organ donation, though those can possibly reverse, if they ultimately seek the meaning of existence, by questioning the value of life and striving to achieve virtue of the body.Conclusion 5 Chinese traditional culture shows much interest upon the meaning of life. Especially there are beneficial values of life and death from the traditional Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism culture, those can aim Chinese people to break through physical limitations and reach the realm of freedom to pursue the meaning of existence, providing the possibility to choose many paths.Conclusion 6 Knowledge of the different views of body-mind relations held by individuals shall be useful to provide personal guidance properly. One’s will to donate shall be respected in a fine and fully supportive social atmosphere. Emphasizing on public education and treating different individual accordingly, are important options to improve the ratio of the Chinese volunteers willing to donate organs after death.