Can education alter attitudes, behaviour and knowledge about organ donation? A pretest–post-test study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe emergence of evidence suggests that student nurses commonly exhibit concerns about their lack of knowledge of organ donation and transplantation. Formal training about organ donation has been shown to positively influence attitude, encourage communication and registration behaviours and improve knowledge about donor eligibility and brain death. The focus of this study was to determine the attitude and behaviour of student nurses and to assess their level of knowledge about organ donation after a programme of study.DesignA quantitative questionnaire was completed before and after participation in a programme of study using a pretest–post-test design.SettingParticipants were recruited from a University based in Northern Ireland during the period from February to April 2011.Participants100 preregistration nurses (female : male=96 : 4) aged 18–50 years (mean (SD) 24.3 (6.0) years) were recruited.ResultsParticipants’ knowledge improved over the programme of study with regard to the suitability of organs that can be donated after death, methods available to register organ donation intentions, organ donation laws, concept of brain death and the likelihood of recovery after brain death. Changes in attitude postintervention were also observed in relation to participants’ willingness to accept an informed system of consent and with regard to participants’ actual discussion behaviour.ConclusionsThe results provide support for the introduction of a programme that helps inform student nurses about important aspects of organ donation.

Medical students’ education on organ donation and its evaluation during six consecutive years: results of a voluntary, anonymous educational intervention study

“…The specific lecture did impact a significant change in the students’ perceived knowledge of organ donation, but the students’ decision to register as an organ donor did not increase significantly. These results are comparable to a study by McGlade et al After a much more intense program of 33 hours on organ donation, student nurses also demonstrated an increased willingness to donate and a rising number actually registering, but these numbers did not reach statistical significance either [23]. In our study, the number of donor card carriers before the lecture was much higher compared to the general public suggesting a better informed group resulting in already high registration rates [24].…”

Knowledge, attitude, and perception on organ donation among undergraduate medical and nursing students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in the southern part of India: A cross-sectional study

“…Family members play a vital role in India toward any decision-making,[2326] and hence, the donor is not the sole decision-making authority for the deceased organ donation; among the nursing participants in our study, 65.3% of them agreed that permission from the nearer family member is also very essential. Other similar studies have shown that 60%–80% of the study participants agreed to the same.…”

Awareness of body and organ donation amongst first year MBBS students of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna

“…Attitude of society towards organ donation and body donation significantly affects the availability of organs and cadavers. 15 Educating the medical students regarding organ and body donation from the beginning of their medical curriculum and onwards is an important factor to promote awareness in the society.…”