Theological faculty students' attitudes toward organ and blood donation: Knowledge gaps, religious concerns, and...

Individuals' level of knowledge, religious beliefs and sociocultural characteristics directly affect their attitudes toward organ and blood donation. The aim is to determine the knowledge and attitudes of the students studying at the Faculty of Theology regarding blood donation and organ donation, to examine them in the light of sociodemographic variables and to raise awareness on the subject.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was completed with 291 students. Data were collected using an e-survey form, Organ Donation Attitude Scale, and Blood Donation Attitude Scale developed by the researchers.

145 of the students (48.8%) had donated blood before and 99 (34.1%) stated that it was appropriate for a non-Muslim to donate blood. It was determined that there was a negative and significant relationship between the blood donation attitude and its sub-dimensions and the negative attitude dimension and its sub-dimensions (p<0.05).

The study found that students had a more positive approach to blood donation, while organ donation was negatively affected by lack of knowledge, religious concerns, and personal fears. Targeted awareness campaigns should be organized by the State Health Institutions to emphasize that the process is carried out by experienced physicians and to share organ donation with the society in order to share organ donation with the society.