Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Chengde is a city with many corneal blindness patients in north China. Lacking of corneas donation is the main reason which prevents corneal transplantation. Survey was made by questionnaire in Chengde to evaluate the current situation and the influential factors of corneal donation.
METHODS: Survey was made in 3 200 Chengde residents aged 18 years or older, includes outpatients and inpatients of ophthalmology, some undergraduate students and people met accidentally in park, supermarket, station and centre for elders. 48.6% are male and 51.4% are female. Self-made questionnaire includes general state, questions about cornea donation and factors influencing cornea donation.
RESULTS: Among 3 200 questionnaires, 2 971 were valid. The effective rate was 92.84%. Over 50% people support donating cornea. More than 40% people intend to donate their corneas and support their relatives to donate. Among the factors for not intending to donate cornea, lacking knowledge of cornea donation was the main reason accounting for 42.81%, and worrying about the misusage of donating cornea without corresponding law became the second factor, which accounting for 21.07%. It has no influence on the consciousness of cornea donation by the difference of sex and location between city and countryside. Whereas, age, profession and level of education indeed influence the consciousness of cornea donation, which of the people from 18 to 40 years old was greater than those of over 40, medical workers was greater than those from other fields, the people graduating from secondary specialized school or higher was greater than those graduating under secondary specialized school.
CONCLUSION: People in Chengde have a positive attitude towards cornea donation. It is very necessary to enhance the education of cornea donation, establish an easy and smooth way for donation may promote cornea donating. Consummate legislation is also needed for cornea donation.