Knowledge, attitude and willingness to donate organ among medical students of Jimma University, Jimma Ethiopia: cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background The lack of organ donors has become a limiting factor for the development of organ transplantation programs. Many countries are currently facing a severe shortage of organs for transplantation. Medical students, as future doctors can engage in the role of promoting organ donation by creating awareness and motivating the community to donate their organs besides their voluntary organ donation. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and willingness of undergraduate medical students’ towards organ donation at Jimma University. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 medical students from year I to internship using questionnaire in order to assess their knowledge, attitude and willingness regarding organ donation. Data collected was entered using epidata and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. Results Mean (±SD = standard deviation) age of participants was 23.48 ± 17.025 years. 57.8% of the study subjects were male. There was a statistically significant interaction effect between gender and year of study on the combined knowledge questions (dependent variables) F(25,062) = 1.755,P = 0.014, Wilk’s Λ = .033. Variables which were related to a positive attitude towards organ donation were: being of the male sex (Odds Ratio = 1.156); having awareness about organ donation (Odds Ratio = 2.602); not having a belief on the importance of burying intact body (Odds Ratio = 5.434); willingness to donate blood (Odds Ratio = 4.813); and willingness to donate organ (Odds Ratio = 19.424). Conclusion High level of knowledge but low level of positive attitude and willingness was noticed among the study participants toward organ donation.

Knowledge, attitudes and willingness to organ donation among the general public: a cross-sectional survey in China

“…Unsurprisingly, the rate of the general public’s willingness to donate organs was lower than that previously reported in Chinese health professionals (49.3%) [ 14 ], Chinese transplantation patients and their caregivers (62.7%) [ 32 ], medical students in Spain (79%) [ 33 ], in Germany (63.5%) [ 34 ] and Jimma University (58.1%) [ 35 ]. All things considered, general public’s willingness to donate organs in this study is not particularly high and targeted measures should be implemented by the policy-makers and scientists to improve the situation.…”

Knowledge and Attitude Towards Corneal Donation

“…5 Although lack of knowledge contributed to the decreased desire to donate, part of the reason to not pledge may also be due to cultural differences between Saudi Arabia and other countries. 21 Study participants stated that eye donation must be encouraged mainly because it can give vision to a blind person among other reasons. Furthermore, eye donation was termed as a "noble cause" by participants.…”

“… 3 Although lack of knowledge would surely have contributed to a decreased desire to donate, another reason could be cultural differences between Saudi Arabia and other countries. 21 …”

Factors influencing attitudes towards organ donation among undergraduate health sciences students

“…10 Etiyopya'da tıp öğrencileri üzerinde yapılan bir çalışmada, katılımcıların %58.1'inin organ bağışı yapma konusunda istekli oldukları rapor edilmiştir. 11 Türkiye'de hemşirelik öğrencileri üzerinde yapılan bir çalışmada ise katılımcıların %30.5'i organ bağışında bulunmayı düşündüklerini ifade etmiştir. 12 Bu farklılıkların bazıları farklı altyapı, kanun veya rıza sistemi ile açıklanabilir.…”