Comparison of medical and allied health students' attitudes on organ donation: Case study from a private university in Karachi - Short Report.

Organ transplantation is often the only hope for patients with end-stage organ failure. Organ transplant surgeries are increasingly becoming available in Pakistan. From May-July 2017, using convenience sampling and statistical programme R 3.4.1, we assessed and compared the organ donation attitudes among medical and allied health undergraduate students of the Hamdard University in Karachi. Compared to non-medical students, medical students were more likely to be concerned that family members of brain-dead patients would be upset if approached for organ donation, and felt that appropriate time for bringing up organ donation would be after the declaration of brain death has taken place. Medical students also considered prolonging life by using human organ transplants more appropriate, and considered organ donation desirable when a patient has been declared brain dead. As demand of human organs for transplantation far exceeds the supply, there is need to better understand the dynamics underpinning positive attitudes towards organ donation, and to improve educational activities by encouraging debate and acceptance of organ donation for saving lives.