Attitudes of Medical Students From Different Countries About Organ Donation

Although there have been some case studies that measure the medical students' knowledge and attitude about organ donation, there is no such global survey in the literature.

An online questionnaire was prepared to measure the knowledge and attitudes about organ donation.

A total of 1541 medical students from 104 different countries responded to the questionnaire. The participants who have received education before were more successful, had a higher self-donation rate, and showed a more-positive attitude toward organ donation than did those who did not receive an education, or a higher self-donation rate, or a more-positive attitude toward organ donation. Opposition against promotion of the organ donation by medical doctors was more widespread among men, preclinical students, African participants, and participants who did not support organ donation. The two most important decisions about increasing the level of organ donation involved in achieving support of the media and the education of the health care workers.

Educational programs would improve the knowledge and attitudes of medical students about organ donation and transplantation.