Elsevier

Transplantation Proceedings

Volume 38, Issue 9, November 2006, Pages 2745-2750
Transplantation Proceedings

Organ donation
Assessing Medical Student Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Organ Donation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2006.08.127Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

To measure medical students’ knowledge of the central issues in organ donation and transplantation and to understand their perception of the extent of training they received prior to and during medical school.

Methods

A previously validated, 41-question instrument assessing organ donation, allocation, and transplantation knowledge was directly administered to 537 first- and second-year medical students attending one of three Ohio schools from January through April 2005. Students were also asked about their support for organ donation and the donation training they had received.

Results

Two hundred sixty four first-year and 236 second-year students responded (response rate = 93%). Few students to date received donation and transplantation training before (11%) or during (22%) medical school. Second-year students were more likely than first-year students to have received training during medical school (40% vs 6%, P < .001) and to have read articles regarding donation (24% vs 15%, P = .017). However, both first- and second-year medical students answered the majority of the knowledge questions incorrectly (43% vs 48%, P < .002). Knowledge regarding brain death was lower among medical students compared to a random sample of Ohio adults (P < .001). Donation coursework prior to or during medical school was significantly associated with an increased knowledge regarding donation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.01, P = .001) and knowing where to find answers to patients’ questions regarding donation (OR = 2.76, P < .001).

Conclusion

Medical students have significant gaps in knowledge regarding the organ donation and transplantation system. Donation and transplantation education is associated with improved knowledge in the area and comfort in knowing how to address patient questions.

Section snippets

Study Population

Between January and April 2005, we sampled first- and second-year medical students attending one of three Ohio medical schools: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Of the 537 students who received the questionnaire, 500 students completed and returned it. We examined first- and second-year students because the didactic portion of the medical school curriculum at all three schools

Results

Of the 537 students who received the questionnaire, 500 students completed it yielding a 93% response rate. Response rates at each school ranged from 90% to 98%. The majority of students were in their first year (53%; Table 1). The mean age was 24 ± 2.3 years, and half of the students were women. There was no difference between first- and second-year students in regards to gender or race. However, second-year students were older and differed in their school of attendance. Most students were

Discussion

In this questionnaire of first- and second-year students attending school at one of three Ohio medical schools, we found that being knowledgeable about donation and transplantation was associated with having donation and transplantation training prior to or during medical school. In addition, receiving donation and transplantation training was associated with feeling comfortable knowing where to obtain information to answer patients’ donation questions. This suggests a role for medical schools

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