The Effect of Nursing Education on the Opinion of Students Regarding Organ Donation

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of nursing education on the opinion of students regarding organ donation and to offer suggestions according to the outcomes. Methods: The study design was a descriptive study. The sample of this study consisted of 743 voluntary grade 1 and 4 students in nursing schools of 5 universities, and 47.4% were grade 1 students and 53.6% were grade 4 students. The data were obtained via a questionnaire that had been prepared by the researchers in reference to the literature and based on expert opinion. The data obtained were evaluated electronically by descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. Results: It was determined that 82% of the students were willing to donate their organs. The leading causes for unwillingness to donate organs included preference to maintain body integrity, concerns about organ trafficking and the notion that the decision about their death would be rendered earlier because of organ removal. It was determined that the knowledge and sources of information of students regarding organ donation significantly increased in the course of nursing education (p=0.000). Conclusion: Nursing education positively affects the opinions of students regarding organ donation. The positive attitudes of the nurses of the future, who have an important role in public education, will positively affect their approach toward the patient with brain death, as well as the decision process of families for organ donation, and consequently may increase the rate of organ donation.

Pre-service Science Teachers’ Knowledge, Practices and Behaviors about Organ Donation and Transplantation

“…Organ transplantation is the replacement of a non-functioning organ with a healthy organ surgically removed from a living donor or a cadaver in order to improve the health of a very ill or dying person (Savaser, Sahiner, Dogan, Caglar, & Mutlu, 2015). The demand for organ donation and transplantation is rapidly increasing in many countries all over the world and in Turkey owing to the increasing incidence of end-stage failure of many vital organs, while the supply of organs from donors remains limited to meet the increasing demand (Abouna, 2008;Goodarzi et al, 2015;Tarhan, Dalar, Yildirimoglu, Sayar, & Altin, 2014).…”

“…For example, Radunz et al (2012) conducted an educational intervention study concerning organ donation among medical students to increase willingness to donate organs, and reported that 42% of the students rated their attitude towards organ donation to be influenced positively after the intervention. Savaser et al (2015) analyzed the outcomes a nursing education regarding organ donation, and pointed out that nursing education positively affected the opinion of the students and changed their attitudes about organ donation. McGlade and Pierscionek (2013) analyzed the attitudes, behavior and knowledge of student nurses about organ donation based on a pre-test post-test study, and found that various aspects of organ donation knowledge of participants were effectively improved and their ability to discuss organ donation intentions with their family was positively influenced.…”