Abstract
Objective.
The aim of this study was to assess and explore medical students' attitudes toward tissue and organ donation and their willingness to donate their own organs or those of a deceased relative in a setting without wellβorganized organ donation programs and education.
Methods.
Medical students from all 6 years of medical studies were surveyed using a questionnaire that included attitude and willingness measures. We also asked the medical students about the feelings they would expect to experience if they had the responsibility of asking family members of a recently deceased patient about donating the patient's organs.
Results.
Participants had highly positive attitudes toward tissue and organ donation and a great willingness to donate tissues and organs. Students in this study were more willing to donate if the purpose was helping others than if the purpose was to help the development of science, and they were more willing to donate their own organs than those of a deceased family member. Although students were willing to donate all organs, the organ they were most willingness to donate after death was the kidney. Participants who had signed donor cards held more positive attitudes about organ donation and were more willing to donate organs than were participants who had not signed donor cards. More than half the medical students said they would feel uncomfortable if in a situation of asking others for organ donation.
Conclusion.
These findings suggest there is a constant need for structured education of medical students in the practical, legal, and ethical aspects of organ and tissue donation.