Medical Students' Attitude Toward Organ Donation in a Single Medical University.

BACKGROUND

In the modern era, organ transplantation has become an important means of treating certain diseases. Although it is widespread and medically accepted, certain controversies still exist.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate attitudes toward organ transplantation among medical students.

METHODS

The anonymous survey was conducted among 273 medical students (from the departments of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and physiotherapy). The questionnaire was self-designed and contained 15 dichotomous questions.

RESULTS

Among students, 99.6% accepted transplantation as a therapeutic method. Live-donor transplantation was accepted by 98.9% of students and transplantation from unrelated donors by 92.6% and 87.6% (depending on the existence of an emotional bond between the donor and the recipient). Interestingly, 12.8% of students approved of the selling of organs as a means of expanding the donor pool, and there were significant differences between divisions. On average, 90.1% of students declared knowledge of the definition of brain death with statistically significant differences between groups. Unfortunately, only 81.3% of students accepted the definition of brain death. Moreover, 98.5% of students would accept an organ if needed but only 93.8% declared willingness to donate organs after death. Interestingly, 26.4% of subjects stated that family should decide whether organs can be retrieved. Only 69.2% of respondents had talked to loved ones about their attitudes concerning organ transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Although organ transplantation as a therapeutic method is widely accepted, there are still certain areas where considerable controversies exist. A structured, well-planned educational program should be implemented to improve awareness and attitude, especially among medical students.