Medical students' knowledge, attitudes and awareness toward organ donation

Mediating effects of attitude on the relationship between knowledge and willingness to organ donation among nursing students

Background

The current rate of organ donation in China falls significantly below the global average and the actual demand. Nursing students play a crucial role in supporting and promoting social and public welfare activities. This study primary aims to analyze the levels of knowledge, attitudes, willingness toward organ donation, and attitudes toward death among nursing students, and investigate the mediating role of attitude in the relationship between knowledge and willingness. The secondary aims to identify factors that may influence the willingness.

Methods

A convenience sample of nursing students completed online-administered questionnaires measuring the level of knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward organ donation before and after clinical internship. Spearman correlation and mediation analyses were used for data analyses.

Results

Before the clinical internship, there were 435 nursing students who had not yet obtained their degrees and were completing their clinical internships. After the internship, this number decreased to 323. The mean score for knowledge before and after the clinical internship (7.17 before and 7.22 after, with no significant difference), the attitude (4.58 before and 4.36 after, with significant difference), the willingness (12.41% before and 8.67% after, with significant difference), the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) score (94.41 before and 92.56 after, with significant difference). The knowledge indirectly affected nursing students' willingness to organ donation through attitude. Knowledge had a direct and positive impact on attitudes (β = 1.564). Additionally, nursing students' attitudes positively affected their willingness (β = 0.023). Attitudes played a mediating role in the relationship between knowledge and willingness (β = 0.035). Additionally, attitude toward death, fear of death, and acceptance of the concept of escape were found to be correlated with their willingness.

Conclusion

Organ donation willingness was found to be low among nursing students. Positive attitudes were identified as a mediating factor between knowledge and willingness. Additionally, DAP-R was a related factor. Therefore, it is recommended to focus on improving knowledge and attitude, as well as providing death education to help nursing students establish a positive attitude toward death. These efforts can contribute to the promotion of organ donation.

Organ Donation: Behaviour and Beliefs in Sweden

Introduction

Barely one-fifth of people in Sweden have expressed their will regarding organ donation in the national Swedish Donor Registry, and the number of organ donations in Sweden remains low.

Objective

The aim of this study was to map behaviour and beliefs regarding organ donation in Sweden.

Methods

In a descriptive cross-sectional survey following a quantitative approach and 600 questionnaires were issued to randomly selected individuals across Sweden. Of them, 206 (36.3%) were completed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented as frequencies and percentages. Analytical statistical testing involved Pearson chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results

The results indicate a discrepancy between positive opinion about organ donation in Sweden and the number of people enrolled in the Swedish Donation Registry. The most common argument for not wanting to donate organs was the notion of being too old to. Although self-rated knowledge about organ donation was admittedly low, so was interest in interest in learning more about it. Younger patients more frequently wanted information than older patients did.

Conclusion

Not wanting to donate organs due to age and/or illness may indicate a misconception. Making one's will known does not involve assessing one's health status or age but solely concerns the wish to do so. The findings thus raise an important question: How can people's interest in learning more about organ donation be induced in ethical ways?

Attitudes That Might Impact upon Donation after Brain Death in Intensive Care Unit Settings: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Organ donation and transplantation can save or improve the quality of life of people worldwide. However, there are many challenges associated with organ donation, as the demand for organs greatly outstrips supply. Additionally, there are brain-dead patients who could be potential organ donors. It is thus important to determine the attitudes affecting organ donation and transplantation in intensive care unit settings.

AIM

this study aimed to identify attitudes that might affect organ donation and transplantation in intensive care unit settings.

METHODOLOGY

Five electronic databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and EMBASE) were searched systematically. A systematic search strategy was formulated. The quality of each study was assessed using the MMAT quality appraisal tool.

RESULTS

A total of seven studies were included. The findings of this systematic review demonstrate that education, policy, and continuing professional development could help to address barriers to donation.

CONCLUSIONS

therefore, to influence organ donation and transplantation positively, the main themes evaluated in this systematic review provide an opportunity to influence organ donation and transplantation attitudes in intensive care unit settings.

Knowledge and attitude regarding organ donation among medical students in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional study

Objectives

The rate of organ donation in Hong Kong is among the lowest in developed regions. Since medical students will play an important role in counselling patients for organ donation and identifying potential donors in the future, their knowledge, attitudes and action for organ donation are important. This study aims to understand knowledge, attitudes and actions with regard to organ donation among medical students and investigate the factors determining the knowledge and attitudes.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting and participants

Medical students in Hong Kong were invited to complete a questionnaire. 377 medical students participated in the study.

Methods

The questionnaire assessed their attitudes, knowledge, action of organ donation, belief and perception on organ donation, and other factors. Linear regression analyses and logistic regression were performed to analyse the effect of the variables on knowledge, attitudes and action for organ donation.

Results

Almost all medical students (99.5%) held a positive attitude towards organ donation, but only 28.1% have signed up as organ donors. Determinants of knowledge of organ donation included belief in preservation of intact body after death (β = –0.14, 95% CI = –0.24 to –0.04) and perceived confidence and competence of organ donation discussion (β = –0.12, 95% CI = –0.22 to –0.02). Predictors of organ donor registration status included knowledge of organ donation (OR=1.03, 95% CI=1.00 to 1.06), perceived convenience of organ donation registration (OR=3.75, 95% CI=1.62 to 8.71), commitment to organ donation (OR=3.81, 95% CI=2.01 to 7.21) and exposure to organ donation (OR=4.28, 95% CI=2.37 to 7.74).

Conclusions

Knowledge is positively associated with organ donation action. The above determinants of organ donation could be emphasised in medical education.