New study on young men and stem cell donation

Together with Ungdomsbarometern, the Tobias Registry has carried out a study to increase understanding of why so few young men register as stem cell donors – even though they are often particularly in demand as donors.

Today, boys are underrepresented in the Tobias Registry and account for about 30 percent of those registered. The study has specifically looked at young boys with non-European backgrounds, since more donors from diverse backgrounds are needed so that more patients can find a match.

Many young people know about the Tobias Registry, but few take the step to register. On behalf of the Tobias Registry, Ungdomsbarometern conducted in-depth interviews with young men with roots outside Europe, both people who had not joined the registry and some who had already registered.

The study shows that several of the boys who were interviewed are worried about how a donation might affect their health, body, and training. At the same time, it emerges that knowledge about stem cells and donation in general is low, and that many confuse stem cell donation with organ donation.At the same time, the study shows that the willingness to help others is strong when the information becomes clearer and easier to understand.

The study provides the Tobias Registry with important knowledge about how more young men can be reached with better and clearer information about stem cell donation.