Dutch people value organ donation, but one in three never talks about it

More than three-quarters of the Dutch*) think organ and tissue donation is important and almost 80% think it is important that attention is paid to this. However, one-third of the respondents indicate that they never talk about this. These figures come from a study commissioned by the Dutch Transplantation Foundation (NTS) on the eve of the annual Week of the Donor Conversation. This year's theme is 'Of value to another.'

Naomi Nathan, director-board member NTS: "As an organ or tissue donor, you pass on life. For patients, it means a second chance at a healthier and happier life. And also that they themselves can be of value to another again. There is no more valuable gift than the donation of an organ or tissue. We are exceptionally grateful to the donors for that."

The loved ones of donors also see the value of donation. Nathan: "In conversations with surviving relatives, we often hear that they find comfort in the thought that their loved one still means so much to someone else after death."

Research

Commissioned by the NTS, research agency Ruigrok conducted a representative study into the value that Dutch people attach to organ and tissue donation. The study shows that 79% of the more than 1,000 respondents think it is important to pay attention to organ and tissue donation.

Of the respondents, 83% indicate that they sometimes reflect on the significance of organ and tissue donation in the daily life of a recipient. They think that recipients can live longer and/or more independently with a higher quality of life, have more freedom, and get more time to spend with family and friends. 75% of the respondents sometimes think about how recipients, after donation, can in turn be of value to someone else.

81% of the respondents have a lot (42%) to very much (39%) appreciation for people who choose to donate organs or tissue.

Nathan: "Those are hopeful figures. We can conclude that Dutch people find organ and tissue donation important and see how valuable it can be. At the same time, we see that 32% of the Dutch never talk about it and 33% do so on a single occasion. The conversation about organ donation is therefore certainly not a given."

Week of the Donor Conversation

With the annual Week of the Donor Conversation, the NTS brings organ and tissue donation to people's attention. Nathan: "That remains necessary, because the study also shows that people need a reason to talk about it with their loved ones. It is certainly not an easy subject to discuss. But it is very important to know each other's thoughts on organ and tissue donation and what choice you have made in the Donor Register. By doing so, you help your loved ones do what you want. That provides a great deal of peace of mind when saying goodbye to a loved one."

The campaign kicks off this year with an open-air exhibition. On large photo panels, six 'figureheads' share what the donation of an organ or tissue has meant in their lives. The exhibition opens on October 12 at 2:00 PM at the Eemplein in Amersfoort and can be seen there until November 12. The campaign also consists of a campaign website with stories where people can also share their experiences, supported by displays at NS stations and social media.

*) Research among Dutch people aged 18 up to and including 60 years, representative regarding gender, age, and education level. For more results and accountability of the research, see factsheet.