Undergraduate nurses attitudes towards organ donation: a cross-sectional survey in a north Italian university.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although research reveals that there are many complex factors influencing the low organ donation rate in addition to nurses, literature suggests that nurses and doctors' active engagement and support have a significant impact on donation rates. Donation rates can be influenced by a variety of factors, including health professionals' attitudes, knowledge, confidence, participation, and training. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the attitudes of undergraduate nursing students at the University of Brescia in the Campus of Cremona regarding organ and tissue donation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by administering the Organ Donation Attitudes Scale (ODAS). RESULTS: ODAS showed that most students know someone who has donated an organ during their lifetime or after death, and over half know someone who has received an organ transplant. However, 63.3% of students indicated that they had not received specific training, and attitudes ranged from 45 to 71 with a median score of 61. Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that received academic training does not correlate with students' attitudes (p=.37). Knowing someone who has received a transplant correlates with having expressed willingness to donate (p=.047), and academic training correlates with perceived knowledge about the donation process (p=.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The study found mainly positive attitudes toward organ and tissue donation among nursing undergraduate students from the Cremona campus. Further research involving nursing universities is needed to raise awareness of organ donation among the public and healthcare workers.