Exploring Perspectives on Kidney Donation: Medical and Non-Medical Students in Croatia

TL;DR

This study compares medical and non-medical students in Croatia regarding their knowledge and willingness to donate kidneys, highlighting the need for better education.

Contribution

The study identifies differences in kidney donation awareness and willingness between medical and non-medical students in Croatia's presumed-consent system.

Findings

Medical students showed higher willingness to donate a kidney (39.0%) compared to non-medical students (26.8%).

Most students cited health risks and surgical complications as concerns about kidney donation.

Over a third of students reported inadequate knowledge of kidney donation, relying more on social media than healthcare professionals.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Kidney donation remains a critical component of addressing end-stage renal disease. This study examines differences in awareness, willingness to donate, and concerns related to kidney donation among medical and non-medical university students. By comparing these groups within the context of Croatia’s presumed-consent system for organ donation, the study provides insights into how educational backgrounds shape attitudes in a setting with high transplantation rates but limited data on young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study targeted at medical and non-medical university students in Croatia. Data were collected from 640 participants via a self-administered, close-ended, structured questionnaire with 33 items divided across three sections. Responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics program (v. 30.0), to identify significant differences. Due to the cross-sectional design, causal relationships could not be inferred. Results: Overall, 190 students (28.7%) reported willingness to donate a kidney during their lifetime, which was more common among medical students (N = 59; 39.0%) than non-medical students (N = 131; 26.8%). Collectively, willingness to donate postmortem was high in both groups (N = 527; 82.3%), as was willingness in a brain-dead state (N = 448; 70.0%). Medical and non-medical students mostly cited perceived health risks as a concern and concerns related to surgical complications. Regarding information sources, 33.2% of students reported inadequate knowledge of kidney donation, with social media and internet searches cited more frequently than healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that medical and non-medical students exhibit distinct gaps in knowledge, risk perception and willingness toward kidney donation. Within Croatia’s presumed-consent framework, these findings highlight the importance of targeted educational strategies to support informed decision-making among future generations.

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