Evaluation of transplantation procedures acceptance among students of Thai, American, and Polish origin who finished a basic didactic course

The aim of this paper was to compare acceptance of basic transplantation procedures as displayed among students from Poland, Thailand, and the United States who finished their education in our clinic. The research concerned a group of 110 fifth year students of the medical department, including 42 citizens of Poland (group 1), 41 citizens of Thailand (group 2), and 27 citizens of the United States (group 3). The average age of the respondents was 25.4 years and 58% were women. After completing a number of clinical transplantation classes, we performed an anonymous poll that consisted of 12 questions related to attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation from dead of living donors. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the relationship between expressed opinions and demographic data. The majority of students accepted organ donation from either dead (92% “definitely yes”) or living (81%) donors. The smallest percentage (58%) was expressed by group 2. Some insignificant differences were also observed in connection with the question of whether “brain death” is equivalent to death of a person. Students' responses were diverged with regard to consideration of implied consent as a factor to condition organ procurement from dead donors. Amid Thai students, acceptance was definitely lower (23%) than Polish (67%) or American (58%) ones. At the same time, organ donation was mostly dependent on the consent of a deceased person's family. Similar to other groups, the great majority of students declared their consent to both organ procurement after their own death, to donating a kidney to their relatives, or to persons with whom they are emotionally connected. Interestingly, 16% accepted organ donation for money.