Navigating Misconceptions and Building Understanding: A Deep Dive Into Medical Field Knowledge Gaps Concerning Organ...

Although organ donation is a lifesaving medical procedure, there are still obstacles to its widespread use because of misunderstandings, cultural norms, and information gaps, especially among aspiring medical professionals. To increase organ donation rates and close the gap between supply and demand in Saudi Arabia, these obstacles must be removed. The aim of this study was to evaluate Saudi Arabian medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about organ donation and determine the variables affecting their opinions.

From September to December 2024, analytical cross-sectional research was carried out in five different Saudi Arabian areas. Data were gathered using a validated, self-administered computerized questionnaire disseminated across many social media sites using a non-probability convenience sample approach. The survey evaluated general knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and sociodemographic traits related to organ donation. SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for statistical analysis, and multivariate logistic regression and chi-square tests were used to examine correlations between the variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed significant.

A total of 473 participants were studied, including 281 (59.4%) female students and 192 (40.6%) male students; most were Saudi nationals (348 (73.6%)), ≤25 years old (425 (89.9%)), and unmarried (430 (90.9%)). Knowledge scores showed 268 (56.7%) good and 205 (43.3%) poor, with employees (31 of 52 (59.6%)) outperforming students (174 of 421 (41.3%)) (p = 0.012). The majority (426 (90.1%)) recognized saving lives as the main goal of organ transplantation, despite misconceptions about brain death and donor eligibility. Men (117 of 192 (60.9%)) were over twice as likely as women (89 of 281 (31.7%)) to support organ donation after death (odds ratio (OR) = 2.26, p = 0.005).

Although Saudi medical students had a reasonable level of general awareness of organ donation, there are still significant information gaps and misunderstandings, especially with regard to legal, procedural, and clinical elements. By addressing these deficiencies with focused educational interventions in medical curricula, future doctors may be better equipped to promote organ donation and have a favorable impact on public opinion.