Organ Donation: Awareness, Attitudes and Beliefs among Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

Background: To save and extend lives, Organ Donation (OD) and Organ Transplantation (OT) have become

the only hope. Knowledge and attitude of health care providers towards OD plays a major role in promoting

this concept among population. Objectives: To understand the awareness about OD among medical students

and to assess their attitudes & beliefs towards it. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted

among 494 medical students of Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Science and Research

foundation. Data was collected by using predesigned pilot tested self administered questionnaire. Results:

74.2 % students could give the correct definition of OD. Internet was a source of information for 25.7 %.

94.7 % of the students felt that OD is necessary to save lives. 75.1 % students responded that OD involves

risk. 97.2 % students approve OD. Fear of surgery is the main (42.9%) cause of refusal among 56 students.

Religious beliefs of 56.7 % students are for OD and 24.4 % believed that OD advances premature termination

of treatment. 17.6 % believed OD encourages euthanasia. Discussion: Although it was found that majority of

the medical students were aware of certain aspects of OD, there exists significant gaps like knowledge about

organ registry and OD card. Still there are beliefs in the budding doctors that OD encourages premature

termination of treatment. Conclusion: These gaps are to be met by introducing OD topics in various levels

of their curriculum along with social and ethical aspects. The outcome of this appraisal shows the necessity

for more debate on OD to prepare future healthcare professionals.