Attitude and Knowledge Toward Organ Donation among University Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest...

We evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers surrounding organ donation among medical students in southwest Iran.

A questionnaire was prepared for this sociological and cross-sectional study. Our study included 136 student participants (mean age of 24.6 ± 2.3 years). Most students were men (55.1%) in year 7 of studies (23.5%) in Shiraz in southwestern Iran.

Among 136 participants, 86.6% (n = 118) indicated support for organ donation, 9.6% (n = 13) were uncertain, and 3.7% (n = 5) did not support organ donation. Few students (16.9%) understood the organ donation system. The awareness level of the country's current organ donation system among participants in different years of studies did not differ (P > .050). Almost 69.9% of the participants (n = 95) stated that doctors should promote organ donation to the general public.

Health care professionals have a vital role in increasing the number of organ donors. Educational programs would enhance medical students' knowledge and attitudes about organ donation and transplantation. In addition to the influence of health care professionals, the support of the media and religious leaders should also be noted to boost organ donation.