Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Organ Donation among Medical Students

Abstract

Introduction. All over the world people on organ transplant waiting lists die due to shortage of donor organs. The success of organ donation program needs education of the population regarding organ donation for which healthcare professionals are most suitable. The present study was taken up to assess the knowledge and attitude of 1st, 2ndand 3rdyear medical students about organ donation. Methods. A specially designed self-administered questionnaire was distributed amongst all willing 1st, 2nd and 3rdyear medical students at our Medical College and later analyzed statistically. Results. A total of 157, 145 and 92 students from each year of medical education respectively gave their consent for participation in the study. Awareness regarding organ donation was found to be 98.7-100%, 69.4% claimed television as their source of information regarding organ donation and 46.7% stated that it is possible for patient to recover from brain death. The awareness regarding eye, liver, heart and kidney donations was found to be 92.4%, 87%, 87% and 97.8%, respectively. 87% of medical students were aware of need for legal supervision, and awareness regarding the existing laws was found to be 57.6%. Conclusion. Medical students had a high level of awareness and a positive attitude towards organ donation. However, knowledge regarding “brain-death”, organs and tissues donated, legislation and ethical issues was poor. A teaching intervention designed to specifically address these issues could help increase the confidence of the health-care professionals and may result finally in increased organ procurement rates.

Gender based perspectives about organ donation among students in a medical school in North India

“…The results are similar to those reported by Bharambe VK et al, where 87% of the respondents were aware of need for legal supervision. 13 As far as awareness about legal age for organ donation is concerned, more than three fourth (77.50%) of the respondents had correct knowledge. In a study by Kaur S et al, only half of the respondents were aware about legal age of the organ donation in India.…”

“…However, Bharambe VK et al, reported a lower awareness about existing laws to the tune of 57.6%. 13 Every nation has its own laws to regulate organ donation and transplantation. In this context the results are not in agreement with those reported by Hamed H et al, from Egypt where 83% of the respondents thought there was no law regulating organ donation or didn't hear or read about the law.…”

“…In contrast to the results of the present study, Bharambe VK et al, reported that 46.7% of final year MBBS students believed that a person can recover from brain death. 13 A future health care professional who believes a patient can recover from brain death would never discuss organ donation with relatives of potential donor. Bapat U et al, and Palanivelu ET et al, also reported a lack of adequate knowledge regarding 'deceased organ donors' among medical students.…”

“…In this regard, Bharambe VK et al, reported that most of the respondents replied that medical curriculum is inadequate in providing transplant related knowledge and few of them feel sufficiently prepared to approach relatives of potential organ donors. 13 It would be pertinent to hold more educational sessions on organ donation to raise knowledge levels of medical professionals so that they can confidentially approach family members of potential donors to raise the topic of organ donation and allay their apprehensions, if any.…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding organ donation among adult population of urban Puducherry, South India

“…However, there were studies which reported adequacy of knowledge among health-care professionals such as doctors, nurses, undergraduate, and postgraduate medical students. [ 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ]…”