Changing Attitudes of Medical Students Regarding Organ Donation from a University Medical School in Turkey

Abstract

BackgroundDoctors have an important role in increasing the number of organ donors. This study aimed to investigate the changing attitudes of medical students regarding organ donation, from first-year medical students (FYMS) to sixth-year medical students (SYMS) at a university medical school in Turkey.Material/MethodsOne hundred first-year medical students and 100 sixth-year medical students participated in the study. A four-part questionnaire was designed for the study, with a response rate of 66.8%.ResultsCompleted study questionnaires showed that organ donation was considered by 46% of first-year medical students and 60% of sixth-year medical students, but an organ donor card was signed by only 8% and 10%, respectively. Information about organ donation had been sought, mainly from social media, by 72% of first-year medical students, and 55% of sixth-year medical students. Regarding their views on organ donation of their relatives, 78% of first-year medical students and 86% of sixth-year medical students were influenced by the opinions of their families and community. When asked about brain death, 50% of first-year medical students and 12% of sixth-year medical students believed it to be a potentially reversible condition, or were uncertain of the definition.ConclusionsDuring six years of training in a university medical school in Turkey, there was only a slight increase in the number of students who were willing to become organ donors and there was a lack of formal education regarding organ donation. Therefore, urgent improvements are required in the education of doctors and society regarding organ donation.

Assessment of knowledge and attitudes regarding organ donation among doctors and students of a tertiary care hospital

“…With various advancements taking place in medical science, the scope of organ transplantation is widening every year. Doctors play a vital role in these programs, right from educating patients, to providing medical and surgical care to them 7,9,10 . Previous studies have assessed the knowledge and attitudes of medical students, interns, and resident doctors regarding organ donation.…”

“…Evaluating the attitudes and individual responsibilities among healthcare providers is instrumental in assessing whether they meet their obligations by leading from the front. It is hence essential to understand their barriers and misconceptions 9,10 …”

“…Doctors play a vital role in these programs, right from educating patients, to providing medical and surgical care to them. 7,9,10 Previous studies have assessed the knowledge and attitudes of medical students, interns, and resident doctors regarding organ donation. However, it was observed by the authors that there were relatively few studies that have assessed the knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation of current practicing doctors, especially in developing countries.…”

“…9 A past report by Akkas et al analyzed the changing attitudes of medical students in Turkey regarding organ donation with 6 years of medical education and found a lack of focused education and little improvement in willingness to donate organs. 10 Hence, considering that medical students are the future of the healthcare system, it is equally essential to evaluate if they are also provided with the right knowledge and approach toward organ donation by the existing medical education framework. 11 Apart from the undergraduate MBBS education syllabus, it is essential to analyze other factors that may have a role in improving the understanding and outlook toward organ donation.…”

Knowledge, Attitude, and Willingness Toward Kidney Donation Among Health Sciences Students at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University

“…Although many of our population, when asked about their willingness to register as kidney donors in Saudi Arabia, answered that they are not willing to donate their kidney, it appears that students showed higher desire to donate their kidney (32.2%) when compared with the general population who showed lower desire (21%). On the other hand, a similar study that was done in Turkey showed a willingness rate of 58.7% among medical students, which is significantly higher than the willingness rate among health science students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University (29). The total willingness rate among the sample study is 26.1% in comparison to 66%, which represents the willingness rate among the Nigerian population (30).…”