Organ Donation: Awareness, attitudes and beliefs among undergraduate medical students in South India
Journal Title: National Journal of Research in Community Medicine - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Organ transplantation is firmly established in medicine as a procedure that saves or prolongs lives of people with organ failure. Health care providers play a critical role in educating and motivating the public to pledge their organs for donation. Objectives: The objectives of this study were 1. to understand the awareness and knowledge about organ donation 2. to assess the attitudes toward organ donation 3. to recommend the college authorities for planning sensitization programs targeting undergraduates to create awareness and improve knowledge and positive attitudes. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of a private medical college in South India. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire, which was self-administered, was used to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards organ donation. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 20.34 years, 64.3% were female students, 90.1% belonged to Hindu religion. Interestingly, 6.6% of the participants had a history of organ donation in the family. Ninety-seven percentage of participants ever heard of the term ‘organ donation’, 90.6% felt that organ donation should be promoted among whom 74.2% felt that there is a ‘great need’ for it. Thirty-two percentage participants responded that they would definitely donate organs after death and 53% participants responded positively to pledge their organs for donation after death. Reasons mentioned for not pledging were perceived parental and family refusal, fear for personal safety, disapproval of mutilation of body and religion. There was no statistically significant correlation between attitudes, beliefs and demographics. Conclusion: The study revealed low levels of awareness on organ donation and gaps in the knowledge among undergraduate medical students.
Authors and Affiliations
T. Sucharitha Sree, Ravi Siriki, Rajeshwara Rao Dugyala
Keywords
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