Awareness, Attitudes, and Perceptions Toward Deceased Organ Donation Among Healthcare Students and Professionals: A Mixed-Methods Study

TL;DR

This study explores healthcare students' and professionals' awareness and attitudes toward deceased organ donation, finding knowledge gaps and barriers that could be addressed through education and policy changes.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a mixed-methods evaluation of awareness and perceptions among healthcare students and professionals, identifying specific knowledge gaps and actionable strategies to improve organ donation rates.

Findings

High awareness of organ donation exists, but significant knowledge gaps persist, especially regarding brain death and donation laws.

Only 13.4% of participants were registered donors, with barriers including family influence, cultural beliefs, and fear of organ trafficking.

Educational initiatives, policy expansion, and media campaigns are suggested to increase donor registration and public trust.

Abstract

Background

Deceased organ donation is essential for addressing organ shortages and meeting the increasing demand for transplantation. With thousands of patients worldwide awaiting transplants, organ donation not only provides a second chance for recipients but also reduces the burden of long-term treatment costs, such as dialysis. Healthcare professionals play a vital role in promoting donation, and their awareness, attitude, and perception significantly influence this process. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness, attitude, and perception of medical and allied health students, as well as junior and senior medical staff, toward deceased organ donation.

Methods

A mixed-method study, comprising descriptive analysis of quantitative data and thematic analysis of qualitative data, was conducted. For the quantitative component, 45 medical students, 35 Allied Health Sciences (AHS) students, 63 junior doctors, and 21 senior doctors from a tertiary care university teaching hospital were assessed to determine their awareness and perceptions using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire included both closed-ended and open-ended questions. For the qualitative component, two to three participants from each group were selected for in-depth interviews to explore their perceptions of deceased organ donation. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, whereas qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Written informed consent was obtained before data collection using Google Forms.

Results

While 99.3% of participants were aware of organ donation, knowledge gaps persisted, particularly regarding brain death. Notably, 11.4% of AHS students and 9.5% of junior doctors incorrectly believed that brain death is reversible. Awareness of organ donation laws was highest among senior doctors (85.7%) and lowest among AHS students (20%). Despite a high willingness to donate (84.1%), actual donor registration remained low (13.4%), highlighting procedural and informational barriers. Family influence, cultural beliefs, fear of organ trafficking, and lack of knowledge regarding the registration process emerged as key barriers. Facilitators included enhanced engagement of healthcare professionals, implementing educational initiatives, expansion of government policies, and targeted media campaigns to increase donor registrations and public trust.

Conclusion

The study underscores the need for targeted educational interventions to address knowledge gaps, particularly regarding brain death and legal aspects of organ donation. Addressing cultural concerns, fostering family discussions, and increasing transparency in organ allocation are crucial for improving donor participation. Strengthening the role of healthcare professionals as advocates, integrating structured discussions on organ donation into medical education, and leveraging digital media for awareness campaigns can significantly enhance organ donation rates and help meet the growing demand for transplantation.

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