Assessment of knowledge and attitudes regarding organ donation among doctors and students of a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Organ donation is a lifesaving treatment option for patients with end‐organ damage. However, many patients are unable to avail this option due to the low availability of viable organs for transplantation. The availability of donor organs can be improved by increasing awareness and resolving organ donation misconceptions among the general population. It can be assumed that healthcare workers are most aware of the value of organ donation. They are also in a position to influence the willingness of the general population to donate organs after death or sign up for an organ donor card. The knowledge and attitudes of current and future healthcare professionals regarding this subject have neither been evaluated nor considered a topic of priority in the existing Indian medical education program. ObjectivesTo evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of licensed medical doctors and undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students and analyze differences between the two groups with respect to the above. Methodology A total of 650 doctors and MBBS students from a Tertiary care hospital were included in the study and subjected to a questionnaire with 11 questions. Responses to the questionnaire were analyzed to evaluate knowledge and attitudes regarding organ donation. Statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 24. Results and conclusions About 29.9% of doctors and 49.8% of students knew about the law governing organ donation. The concept of brain death was entirely understood by only 31.7% of doctors and 14.7% of students. Only 16% of doctors and 3.2% of students had filled an organ donor card. About 40.9% of doctors and 51% of students favored the opt‐out system, as followed by western nations. Fear of illegal selling or purchase of organs was predominant in 61.9% of doctors and 52.2% of students. The current study reveals that the medical fraternity's knowledge and personal responsibility need improvements. However, the system also needs to be improved to win their trust.

Perception of Brazilian medical students toward organ donation

“…In accordance with previous reports from Brazil, the US, and Europe [5][6][7]13 , most of the medical students who were not willing to PMOD were in doubt, and few reported religious or cultural beliefs to justify their decision. This is in contrast to several other reports from Asia and the Middle East, where religion, fear of body mutilation and/or handling, family reaction, and distrust in the transplantation system are the main reasons against PMOD 14 .…”

Opening a Donor Management Center

“…What's more, most studies have been completed outside of the United States. [14][15][16] These studies, however, also suggest that increasing education can result in more positive attitudes.…”

“…Interestingly, though, data are lacking regarding other health care professionals' attitudes toward organ donation; the only other relevant data collected were on physicians. What's more, most studies have been completed outside of the United States 14-16. These studies, however, also suggest that increasing education can result in more positive attitudes.…”