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Publication - Research and analysis

Organ and tissue donation: baseline report 2021

Published
3 February 2022
From
Director-General Health and Social Care
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Part of
Health and social care
ISBN
9781802019506

Data about organ and tissue donation in Scotland prior to implementation of ‘The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Act 2019’, organised into three main categories: public attitudes, workforce, monitoring data.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Marketing Surveys

The below survey findings are based on the following sample sizes: June 2019: 1,002; Sept 2019: 1,007; Mar 2020: 1,101; Sept 2020: 1,070; Jan 2021: 1,056.

Figure 15: Spontaneous and prompted awareness of change to opt-out system, across omnibus surveys (June 2019 – Jan 2021)
This figure shows spontaneous and prompted awareness of change to the opt-out system across omnibus surveys between June 2019 and January 2020. There are two bar charts showing the survey responses to two different questions. Question 1 (Spontaneous) asks, “Are you aware of plans to move to an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation in Scotland?”. In June 2019, the response to this question was 72% “Yes”, 25% “No”, and 3% “Don’t know” In September 2019, the response to this question was 81% “Yes”, 16% “No”, and 3% “Don’t know” In March 2020, the response to this question was 74% “Yes”, 22% “No”, and 4% “Don’t know” In September 2020, the response to this question was 75% “Yes”, 22% “No”, and 4% “Don’t know” In January 2021, the response to this question was 76% “Yes”, 19% “No”, and 5% “Don’t know” Question 2 (Prompted) asks, “The law on organ and tissue donation in Scotland will be changing to an opt-out system. Before taking this survey, had you heard of these plans to move to an opt-out system?” In June 2019, the response to this question was 75% “Yes”, and 25% “No” In September 2019, the response to this question was 83% “Yes”, and 17% “No” In March 2020, the response to this question was 77% “Yes”, and 23% “No” In September 2020, the response to this question was 77% “Yes”, and 23% “No” In January 2021, the response to this question was 79% “Yes”, 21% “No”.

Note: Q1: Are you aware of plans to move to an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation in Scotland? Q2: The law on organ and tissue donation in Scotland will be changing to an 'opt-out system'. This means that most adults in Scotland will be considered to be willing to donate their organs/tissue whey they die, unless they have opted out or said they do not want to donate. Before taking this survey, had you heard of these plans to move to an opt-out system?

Figure 16: Understanding of opt-out, across omnibus surveys (June 2019 – Jan 2021)
This figure shows respondents’ understanding of the opt-out system across omnibus surveys between June 2019 and January 2021. Respondents were asked the question, “I understand that under the proposed opt-out system I may be willing to donate unless I have opted out or stated that I do not wish to donate” In June 2019, 49% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 27% answered “Agree”, 6% answered “Agree slightly”, 6% answered “Neither/nor”, 3% answered “Disagree slightly”, 2% answered “Disagree”, 4% answered “Disagree strongly” and 4% answered “Don’t know” In September 2019, 56% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 23% answered “Agree”, 6% answered “Agree slightly”, 6% answered “Neither/nor”, 2% answered “Disagree slightly”, 2% answered “Disagree”, 4% answered “Disagree strongly” and 2% answered “Don’t know” In March 2020, 47% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 25% answered “Agree”, 6% answered “Agree slightly”, 9% answered “Neither/nor”, 3% answered “Disagree slightly”, 3% answered “Disagree”, 4% answered “Disagree strongly” and 4% answered “Don’t know” In September 2020, 55% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 24% answered “Agree”, 4% answered “Agree slightly”, 6% answered “Neither/nor”, 2% answered “Disagree slightly”, 2% answered “Disagree”, 3% answered “Disagree strongly” and 3% answered “Don’t know” In January 2021, 55% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 25% answered “Agree”, 4% answered “Agree slightly”, 6% answered “Neither/nor”, 2% answered “Disagree slightly”, 2% answered “Disagree”, 3% answered “Disagree strongly” and 3% answered “Don’t know”
Table 8: Q3, Net agree and disagree rates regarding understanding of opt-out
Date Net agree Net Disagree
June 2019 84% 7%
Sept 2019 84% 7%
March 2020 77% 10%
Sept 2020 84% 8%
Jan 2021 82% 8%
Figure 17: Q4, Support of opt-out, across omnibus surveys (June 2019 – Jan 2021)
This figure shows respondents’ support of the opt-out system across omnibus surveys between June 2019 and January 2021. Respondents were asked the question, “I support the introduction of an opt-out system for organ and tissue donation” In June 2019, 45% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 21% answered “Agree”, 9% answered “Agree slightly”, 7% answered “Neither/nor”, 4% answered “Disagree slightly”, 4% answered “Disagree”, 6% answered “Disagree strongly” and 3% answered “Don’t know” In September 2019, 50% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 18% answered “Agree”, 6% answered “Agree slightly”, 8% answered “Neither/nor”, 3% answered “Disagree slightly”, 4% answered “Disagree”, 8% answered “Disagree strongly” and 2% answered “Don’t know” In March 2020, 42% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 21% answered “Agree”, 8% answered “Agree slightly”, 10% answered “Neither/nor”, 4% answered “Disagree slightly”, 4% answered “Disagree”, 7% answered “Disagree strongly” and 4% answered “Don’t know” In September 2020, 47% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 21% answered “Agree”, 8% answered “Agree slightly”, 10% answered “Neither/nor”, 4% answered “Disagree slightly”, 3% answered “Disagree”, 5% answered “Disagree strongly” and 2% answered “Don’t know” In January 2021, 48% of respondents answered “Agree strongly”, 21% answered “Agree”, 7% answered “Agree slightly”, 8% answered “Neither/nor”, 4% answered “Disagree slightly”, 4% answered “Disagree”, 6% answered “Disagree strongly” and 3% answered “Don’t know”
Table 9: Q4, Net agree and disagree rates regarding support for the introduction of an opt-out system for organ and tissue donation
Date Net agree Net Disagree
June 2019 75% 14%
Sept 2019 75% 15%
March 2020 71% 15%
Sept 2020 76% 12%
Jan 2021 76% 13%
Figure 18: Intentions regarding organ donation, across omnibus surveys (June 2019 – Jan 2021)
This figure shows respondents’ intentions regarding organ donation across omnibus surveys between June 2019 and January 2021. In June 2019, 47% of respondents were willing to donate and were on the organ donation register. 29% were willing but not on the register. 2% were not willing to be a donor and had opted out of the register. 9% were not willing but had not opted out. 9% of respondents answered that they did not know and 3% preferred not to say In September 2019, 54% of respondents were willing to donate and were on the organ donation register. 23% were willing but not on the register. 2% were not willing to be a donor and had opted out of the register. 9% were not willing but had not opted out. 8% of respondents answered that they did not know and 4% preferred not to say In March 2020, 48% of respondents were willing to donate and were on the organ donation register. 23% were willing but not on the register. 3% were not willing to be a donor and had opted out of the register. 11% were not willing but had not opted out. 10% of respondents answered that they did not know and 5% preferred not to say In September 2020, 49% of respondents were willing to donate and were on the organ donation register. 26% were willing but not on the register. 3% were not willing to be a donor and had opted out of the register. 9% were not willing but had not opted out. 10% of respondents answered that they did not know and 3% preferred not to say In January 2021, 51% of respondents were willing to donate and were on the organ donation register. 24% were willing but not on the register. 3% were not willing to be a donor and had opted out of the register. 8% were not willing but had not opted out. 10% of respondents answered that they did not know and 4% preferred not to say
Table 10: Total percentage of respondents willing to donate
June 2019 Sept 2019 Mar 2020 Sept 2020 Jan 2021
76% 77% 71% 75% 75%
Figure 19: Spoken to family and friends, across omnibus surveys (June 2019 – Jan 2021)
This figure shows whether respondents had spoken to their family and friends about their wishes concerning organ and tissue donation across omnibus surveys between September 2019 and January 2021. In September 2019, 60% of respondents had spoken to family and friends, 38% of respondents had not spoken to family and friends, and 2% indicated they preferred not to say In March 2020, 52% of respondents had spoken to family and friends, 44% of respondents had not spoken to family and friends, and 5% indicated they preferred not to say In September 2020, 53% of respondents had spoken to family and friends, 43% of respondents had not spoken to family and friends, and 3% indicated they preferred not to say In January 2021, 52% of respondents had spoken to family and friends, 45% of respondents had not spoken to family and friends, and 4% indicated they preferred not to say

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