Factors Associated With Medical and Nursing Students’ Willingness to Donate Organs

Abstract

Malaysia suffers from a chronic shortage of human organs for transplantation. Medical and nursing students (MaNS) are future health professionals and thus their attitude toward organ donation is vital for driving national donation rates. This study investigates MaNS’ willingness to donate organs upon death and the factors influencing their willingness. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 500 students (264 medical and 236 nursing) at the University of Malaya. A self-administrated questionnaire was used. The responses were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Of all respondents, 278 (55.6%) were willing to donate organs upon death, while the remaining 222 (44.4%) were unwilling to donate. Only 44 (8.8%) had donor cards. The multiple logistic regression revealed that the minorities ethnic group was more willing to donate organs than Malay respondents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.98, P = 0.010). In addition, medical students were more willing to donate than nursing students (aOR = 2.53, P = 0.000). Respondents who have a family member with a donor card were more willing to donate than respondents who do not (aOR = 3.48, P = 0.006). MaNS who believed that their religion permits deceased donation were more willing to donate than their counterparts (aOR = 4.96, P = 0.000). Household income and sex were not significant predictors of MaNS’ willingness to donate organs upon death. MaNS have moderate willingness, but low commitment toward deceased organ donation. Strategies for improving MaNS’ attitude should better educate them on organ donation, targeting the most the Malay and nursing students, and should consider the influence of family attitude and religious permissibility on MaNS’ willingness.

Willingness to Become Deceased Organ Donors among Post-graduate Students in Selected Colleges in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

“…This corresponds and contradicts many studies from different parts of the world. Similar findings were observed in the studies carried out in Qatar, where willingness was 57.3%, 17 India, where willingness was 57.3%, 26 Malaysia, where willingness was 55.6%, 27 Turkey, where willingness was 51.3%, 25 Korea, where willingness was 49.8% 28 and China, where willingness was 49.3. 29 However, contradictory results were shown in studies conducted in South India, where willingness was 89% 4 and Turkey, where willingness was 72%.…”

“…In our study, monthly income was not significant, which is consistent with a study in Malaysia. 27 However, monthly income was found to be positively or negatively associated with organ donation in studies done in Qatar, 17 South India, 4 and Pakistan. 34 Though, respondents' perceptions that their religion supports organ donation was highly significant with willingness for organ donation in the bivariate analysis, it was insignificant in final multivariate logistic regression.…”

<p>Do Health Sciences Students Have the Appropriate Knowledge and Attitude to Advance Organ Donation in Ethiopia? Cross-Sectional Study</p>

“…8,13,21 However, one observational study among medical students in Malaysia reported that student's attitude and willingness to donate organs highly influenced by religion. 7 Another two studies showed that religion is one of the major factors for the students not to donate the organ. 22,23 Future care providers who strongly believe that organ donation is against his or her belief in the religion may have a direct impact on the organ donation rate.…”

“…Therefore, in the future students can be informed advocates to the public about organ donation. 5,7 In general, in Ethiopia, most of the time peoples are not volunteering to donate the organ to the patients who are waiting for urgent organ transplantation. The deferent factors which determine the rate of organ donation should be studied qualitatively and quantitively.…”

Perceptions of Moral Distress among Nursing Students in Relation to Organ Donation

“…The attitude of healthcare professionals, as thus also healthcare students, toward organ donation is considered one of the most important factors to influence donation rates 18 . Clearly, donation rates need to be increased and so investigations of healthcare professional attitudes are needed, including nursesthe most common healthcare professional affected by moral distress.…”