Survey of First-Year Medical Students to Assess Their Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Transplantation and Donation

Background

The important shortage of organ donors is still a fundamental public health problem in France. Improving the knowledge and attitudes of health care professionals could help to promote organ donation. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the level of knowledge of medical students and their gaps about organ donation prior to any medical course.

Materials and Methods

A survey was conducted among 571 first-year medical students at a medical faculty in Lyon. Their knowledge, attitudes, personal views, and perceptions toward organ donation and transplantation were investigated prior to any medical course. A 31-item anonymous questionnaire including queries about personal views of organ donation, factual knowledge, and awareness of French law was distributed to the students.

Results

To “willingness to donate a kidney to a relative,” 97.7% of respondents consented, 0.9% objected, and 1.4% did not answer. Their attitudes toward cadaveric organ donation were different: 81.1% agreed, 13.5% refused, and 5.4% did not answer. Regarding their knowledge about which organs could be transplanted, 95% of the respondents were aware of the possibility to transplant a face and 14% thought that xenotransplantation was performed nowadays.

Conclusions

First-year medical students have a good knowledge level regarding the organ donation and transplantation system prior to their medical course. Some gaps remain which could be improved. The results of this study supported a greater emphasis on providing information regarding transplantation in medical schools to improve the knowledge of future health care professionals. A follow-up survey of the participants at the end of their medical course will be interesting to assess the progress of their attitudes.     

Medical Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation: Results of a Dutch Survey

Background

In the Netherlands, as in many other countries, a paucity of research exists on the attitudes and intentions of medical students toward organ donation. These students are of interest for the effect that increasing medical knowledge might have on the willingness to register as a donor.

Objective

To examine which factors determine medical students' willingness to register as donors.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among medical students at the University of Amsterdam. Our questionnaire included questions on actual donor registration, motives, knowledge, and attitudes toward donation. To assess which factors were related to self-reported donor registration status, we conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

We received 506 questionnaires (response rate at least 84%). The majority of respondents (80%) intended to donate organs, while 59% were registered. Self-reported medical knowledge and positive attitudes on donation were independently associated with registering as a donor. A rising study year was associated with registering as a donor; this could be explained by increasing medical knowledge and changing attitudes.

Conclusion

The results of our study suggest that willingness to register as a donor increases with a rising level of knowledge on organ donation up to some minimal level.     

Attitude and Knowledge of Medical Students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Regarding Organ Donation

Background

The shortage of organ donation is the key rate-limiting factor for organ transplantation in Iran. Many strategies have been proposed to increase donation; one strategy aims to improve awareness of organ donation and transplantation among medical students. Medical students may play an important role in the acceptance of organ donation in the population. This requires both a positive attitude and an appropriate knowledge about the concept of organ donation and transplantation. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of the medical students of the largest medical university in northwestern Iran.

Attitudes of Medical Students About Brain Death and Organ Donation

Introduction

There have been publications on the attitudes of the general Iranian population and health care personnel about brain death and organ donation; however, there is little information about such attitudes of medical students. In 2006, a survey was conducted in Tehran about the attitudes of medical students in a hospital with a transplantation program.

Material and Methods

The general population, health care personnel, and medical students were surveyed, and data were extracted from interviews with 41 medical students. The survey included 35 items about attitudes toward brain death and organ transplantation.

Results

Nine students (22.0%) had ever seen a transplant recipient, and 7 (17.1%) had ever seen a brain-dead patient. Thirty-four students (82.9%) agreed with organ donation after brain death. Six students (14.6%) had received information through university lectures, and 40 (97.5%) perceived a need for further information about organ donation and brain death in the university curriculum. Nine students (22.0%) had an organ donor card.

Conclusion

Most Iranian medical students have neither been exposed to brain death or organ recipients nor received appropriate information about organ donation and transplantation.     

Opinions and Attitudes of Medical Students About Organ Donation and Transplantation

Background

Although transplantation has gained more support and acceptance, there are still many ethical, moral, and legal barriers associated with this form of treatment. The demand for organs is higher than what can be accommodated. Current medical students are forming their views about transplantation.

Knowledge,Attitudes, and Behavior of Nigerian Students Toward Organ Donation

Background

The Nigerian transplantation program is evolving but is currently over-reliant on living donors. If deceased donation is to be viable in Nigeria, it is important to ascertain the views of the public. The objective of the study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Nigerian international students toward organ donation.

Brazilian Health Care Professionals` Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding Organ Donation and Transplantation: A Systematic Review

PurposeThis systematic literature review synthesizes evidence on Brazilian health care professionals' attitudes and knowledge regarding organ donation transplantation.MethodThis search included 5 databases—EBSCO, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Virtual Health Library. Search terms were conceptualized into 4 groups—organ transplantation/donation, health care professionals, attitude/knowledge, and Brazil. The eligibility criteria included academic articles that applied quantitative methods to examine the attitudes and/or knowledge of health care professionals toward organ donation-transplantation (ODT). After a critical appraisal of the citations initially retrieved, 13 studies were included in this review.ResultsAlthough most studies pointed to an overall positive attitude of participants toward ODT, insufficient knowledge level among participants was also observed in most studies, especially knowledge gaps regarding aspects such as legal requirements and the functioning of the ODT processes in Brazil. In convergence with the broader ODT literature, education was highlighted as a central point in ODT processes.ConclusionThe results reveal the scarcity of studies on the subject in Brazil and indicate an opportunity for educational efforts to improve the knowledge of health care professionals regarding the ODT process. This study enriches the academic literature and encourages new investigations on the issue, especially in the North and Northeast of Brazil.     

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation in Health Care Undergraduate Students in Italy

Introduction

The number of organ donors in Italy is increasing, but with still disappointing living donation activity and relatively frequent objection by potential deceased donors' relatives to organ recovery. Few studies have assessed health care students' knowledge and attitude on donation.

Knowledge Among University Students in Rio de Janeiro Regarding Transplant Organ Donation

Introduction

Organ transplantation is often the only possible treatment to save the lives of patients with end-stage organ failure. Limiting factors include failure to notify in cases of patients with brain death, the inefficient procurement and distribution of organs, the lack of specific educational policies for health care professionals, lack of knowledge on the organ transplantation process, and family refusal for organ donation.

Assessment of Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation Among School Teachers: First National Survey Study

Background and aimThe most important factors affecting organ donation are socioeconomic, educational, and cultural factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes, knowledge levels, and behaviors of school teachers toward organ donationMethodsThis study surveyed 2400 school teachers working in official public schools. Turkey was divided into 26 regions based on the similarity of social, economic, and geographic factors identified by the Turkish Statistical Institute. Teachers were distributed equally in the city center and towns based on population. The survey procedures were carried out using computer-assisted personal interviewing.ResultsAmong teachers, 89.6% had a bachelor's degree and 8.5% had a master's degree. In addition, 32.5% worked in primary schools, 33.1% worked in secondary schools, and 34.4% worked in high schools. Furthermore, 0.7% had donated an organ; 66.5% were not considering organ donation in the future, of whom 9.0% indicated religion as the reason for not donating an organ, and 34.8% did not indicate any reason. In addition, 96.6% considered organ donation to be proper behavior for humanity and 68% believed that organ donation is appropriate in religious terms.Conclusions. This study showed that school teachers have inadequate knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation. Encouraging children and adolescents to make a well-informed decision about organ donation and to register this choice will depend largely on preparing school teachers with adequate knowledge and motivation toward creating generations with a positive attitude toward organ donation.     

Brain Death: Knowledge of Future Brazilian Physicians

Background

Thousands of people die on the waiting list for transplants. The shortage of organs and tissues for transplantation is considered a serious global problem. Brain death (BD) is the main source of organs for transplantations.

Specific Needs of Medical Students for Organ Donation Courses: A Qualitative Study in China

BackgroundGlobal promotion of organ transplantation is contingent upon continuous improvement of the donation rate. Organ donation education is an important measure for changing public awareness and promoting organ donation. Therefore, it is important and urgent to conduct a systematic study of the organ donation courses offered in China and around the world. The aim of this study was to learn the views and needs of Chinese medical students and provide a reference for international peers.MethodsSemistructured, in-depth interviews and purposive sampling were used in this study. A total of 18 university students majoring in medicine and nursing were selected according to the principle of data saturation and interviewed. The data were sorted and analyzed with phenomenology.ResultsThese interviewees generally agreed that an organ donation course should be offered. They were in urgent need of knowledge regarding organ donation procedures and relevant policies and eager for a practical and experience-based teaching method design. The Chinese medical students surveyed also believed that the course should also be available to clinical practitioners, nonmedical students, and the public.ConclusionMedical students’ demand for an organ donation course should be considered. To fully stimulate their interest in learning and to provide support and a guarantee for continuous improvement of transplant operations promotion and donation rate worldwide, specific organ donation courses and flexible training should be created.     

Knowledge,Attitude, and Behavior Toward Organ Donation and Transplantation Among Medical Students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

BackgroundOrgan donation is an integral part of medical ethics worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. Although the Saudi community has a positive attitude toward the concept of organ donation and transplantation, several factors prevent people from agreeing to donate organs and tissues. This study aimed to explore and evaluate the knowledge and attitudes medical students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia have toward organ donation and transplantation.MethodsA cross-sectional study among 722 medical students in the Eastern Province. The questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: sociodemographic questions, organ donation and transplantation knowledge questions, and questions on attitudes toward organ donation and reasons for consenting or refusing to donate.ResultsBoth men and women had positive attitudes toward organ donation. The level of knowledge of organ donation and related procedures did not differ significantly among men (13.07%) and women (13.60%) (P < .027). The motives for donation were the desire to help others (88.8%) (P = .02) and sympathy (59.8%). The main source of information on organ donation for respondents was television, followed by the internet and relatives and/or friends.ConclusionsWhile medical students are generally supportive of organ donation and transplantation, they may lack basic knowledge on organ donation. Due to lack of basic knowledge, they become hesitant to make the decision to donate. It is recommended that additional organ donation modules be included in the student curriculum to increase the knowledge of future health care providers. Most of the participants would not change their attitudes toward organ donation based on the Saudi government initiatives to register for the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation organ donation program.     

Survey for the Opinion of Medical Students and Medical Staff on a Financial Incentive System for Deceased Organ Donation in an Asian Country

BackgroundFinancial incentives for deceased organ donation are associated with many controversial ethical issues. This study examines the perspectives of medical students and staff members on financial incentives for the families of brain-dead organ donors.MethodologyA structured survey form was used between December 7, 2017 and January 28, 2018 to elicit opinions on financial incentives for the families of brain-dead organ donors. Forty-three medical staff members and 81 medical students participated in the survey voluntarily. The opinions on the financial incentive system and the relationship between willingness to give information about organ donation to families and a financial incentive system were assessed.ResultsThe majority of the participants (81.4%) had positive thoughts on organ donation. More than half of the participants (60.5%) thought that the financial incentive system did not erode the ethical purity of organ donation. As charge doctors, most respondents (84.6%) were willing to give information about organ donation to family members in the presence of financial incentives. However, the percentage decreased significantly to 60.5% when financial incentive was no longer factored into consideration (P < .001).LimitationThe study population is small, and the participants are not representative of the general population.ConclusionThe opinions of medical students and medical staff on financial incentives for deceased organ donation were generally positive. Financial incentives proved to be a potential influencing factor as an option of organ donation to be given to families.     

Development of the Organ Donation and Transplantation Knowledge Survey for Use in Asian American Adolescents

The need for kidney transplantation among Asian Americans is increasing owing to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the shortage of available organs. This need is likely to increase as the relatively young Asian population ages. However, knowledge about organ donation and transplantation in this population has been little investigated. The objectives of this study was to develop an Organ Donation and Transplantation Knowledge Survey for use in Asian Americans and to examine its psychometric properties. Internal consistency (Cronbach α) and factor analyses were used to determine the reliability and validity of the survey in 121 Asian American adolescents residing on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our results indicate that the survey had adequate reliability and was psychometrically valid for evaluating knowledge about organ donation and transplantation. More studies are needed to validate the usefulness and psychometric properties of the Organ Donation and Transplantation Knowledge Survey in other groups.     

Public Awareness Survey About Organ Donation and Transplantation

BackgroundThis survey was conducted to assess the public perception on organ donation and transplantation.MethodsA random sample of the population attending the outpatient clinics in Dhahran Military Hospital, Saudi Arabia, from December 1, 2011, to January 31, 2012, answered a questionnaire related to the above aim.ResultsFrom 582 subjects who answered the questionnaire, 85 were excluded for incoherent answers. From the remaining 497, 77.7% were males and 22.3% females with the age ranging from 18 to 65 years, and the majority was at a secondary or university level of education. More than 90% were aware organ transplantation and donation. From a religious point of view, 68.6% considered it legal to donate organs versus 26.2%. Those who disagreed with the concept of donation believed that one kidney is not enough to survive (50%), and that the remaining kidney may be affected (25.8%), whereas 15.2% expressed fear of the operation. Kidney transplantation was the preferred treatment for 73.2% of respondents and 12.75% were in favor of dialysis. Regarding financial incentive, 14.5% asked for reward from the government, 3.4% believed that the reward should come from the donor, and the majority (82.1%) stated that organ donation should be for the sake of God. Finally, there was a 61.2% willingness of respondents to donate relatives' organs after brain death.ConclusionThe level of awareness about donation and transplantation in our population was found to be satisfactory. Religion was not a bar for organ donation; moreover, financial incentive was not found to be a positive stimulus toward donation because the majority was willing to donate for the sake of God.     

Public Awareness of Knowledge,Belief, and Attitude Regarding Organ Donation and Organ Transplantation: A National Survey From the United Arab Emirates

Background

Organ donation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was restricted until recently to living donation. This survey was conducted to explore the public knowledge, belief, and attitude regarding donation during life and after death.

Organ and Tissue Donation Knowledge Among Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Introduction

Increased cadaveric donation may be achieved by improving medical staff education to enhance consent rates. This study was designed to examine the critical items that influence nurse knowledge regarding the concepts of brain death and the attitudes toward cadaveric donor renal transplantation. These findings may be useful to evaluate future progress in education.

Subjects and methods

A 31-item questionnaire was distributed to 418 nurses in 24 intensive care units (ICUs) in our hospitals. In addition to initial data regarding age, sex, and marital status, knowledge about donation was evaluated by eight questions. The first four questions pertained to judical and legal knowledge, the second two to economic knowledge, and the last two to concepts of brain death.

Results

Three hundred and two women and 116 men participated in this study. Their mean age was 31.98 years (range = 22-55 years). Two hundred fifty-six (61.2%) of them were married. Three hundred sixteen (75.6%) expressed favorable attitudes regarding cadaveric donation. The major reason for their consent was humanity, and the major reason for their disagreement was “body respect.” Of the 418 nurses, 105 (25.1%) stated positive attitudes toward living kidney donation.

Conclusion

The legal definition of death and the medical definition of death should be uniform in the view of society. To make all medical staff favor cadaveric renal transplantation, they should agree on a definition of death. It was observed that the relatively high rate of misinterpretation of the brain-death concept among respondents negatively affected nurses attitudes toward cadaveric renal transplant. It was concluded that the “concept of brain death” and the “preferences of transplant over other treatment modalities” are the two items that need further attention in educational programs for nurses.