Xenotransplantation. 2018;e12430. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/xen
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https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12430
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
1 | INTRODUCTION
Transplantation medicine is one of the most challenging and complex
areas of modern medicine yet holds great promise regarding the po-
tential cure of human diseases. Organ and tissue transplantation has
many advantages; it saves lives and restores critical functions to un-
treatable patients. The process involves the transfer of an organ or
tissue, also known as a graft, from one body (the donor) to another
(the patient’s own body) to replace the recipient’s damaged organ.
Currently, there are at least four types of organ transplant. These
include allotransplant (between two genetically different members
of the same species), isotransplant (between members of the same
species that are genetically identical, such as twins), autotransplant
(transplant from one part of a person’s body to another) and xeno-
transplant.
1
The first three types of organ transplant occur within
the same species and thus are also known as allografts. However, the
Received: 27 February 2018
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Revised: 30 April 2018
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Accepted: 24 May 2018
DOI: 10.1111/xen.12430
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Determinants of stakeholders’ attitudes to xenotransplantation
Latifah Amin
1
| Hasrizul Hashim
1
| Zurina Mahadi
1
| Anisah Che Ngah
2
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Khaidzir Ismail
1,3
1
Pusat Citra Universiti, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor,
Malaysia
2
Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
3
Faculty of Social Science and Humanities,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi,
Selangor, Malaysia
Correspondence
Latifah Amin, Pusat Citra Universiti,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Email: nilam@ukm.edu.my
Funding information
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Grant/
Award Number: DCP-2017-005/2
Abstract
Background: Advances in xenotransplantation have the potential to resolve the issue
of organ shortages. Despite this, the procedure is expected to meet with a degree of
resistance from the public. The purpose of this study was to identify the relevant
factors influencing stakeholders’ attitudes towards xenotransplantation.
Methods: A multidimensional survey instrument measuring attitudes to xenotrans-
plantation, including the factors that predict such attitudes, was developed based on
earlier studies and validated. It was then completed by 469 respondents who were
stratified in accordance with stakeholder groups in Malaysia. A single-step SEM anal-
ysis was then conducted to estimate the measurement and create a structural model
using IBM SPSS Amos version 20 with a maximum-likelihood function.
Results: The attitudes of Malaysian stakeholders towards xenotransplantation were
moderately positive (mean score of 4.20). The most important direct predictor of at-
titude to xenotransplantation was perceived benefit (β = 0.59, P < .001) followed by
perceived moral concern (β = −0.32, P < .001). Perceived risk had a strong positive
association with moral concern (β = 0.65, P < .001), while attitude to nature had a
positive association with perceived benefit (β = 0.16, P < .01) and a negative associa-
tion with perceived risk (β = −0.19, P < .01). Religiosity had a positive relationship
with perceived risk (β = 0.13, P < .05) while engagement with biotechnology had a
positive relationship with perceived benefits (β = 0.26, P < .001) and a negative as-
sociation with risks (β = −0.15, P < .05) and moral issues (β = −0.11, P < .05).
Conclusion: The Malaysian stakeholders were cautious about xenotransplantation.
This study showed that their views regarding the application are complex and
multifaceted.
KEYWORDS
attitudes, Malaysia, moral concern, perceived benefits, predictors, xenotransplantation