Study of Knowledge attitude and perception regarding organ donation among medical students in a Medical College in a south Indian city

Maseer Khan1, Zeba Unnisa2, Ayesha Fatima3 and Stephen Anand Sajja4

Introduction: :Organ transplantation is the only curative option available for many diseases resulting in irreversible organ-failure. Approximately, 25 different organs and tissues including kidney, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, bone, cartilage, bone marrow, skin and cornea can be transplanted Owing to advances made in immunosuppressant drugs and tissue typing. Objectives:1)To study about the knowledge of the medical students regarding organ donation.2)To study the attitudes of the medical students regarding organ donation. Methodology: study setting: study was conducted at Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad.Study population: medical students of 2009 and 2010 batches were contacted.Study period: December 2012 Sample size: Initially 100 sample was collected. Results:88% were females and 12% were males in the study.89% were muslims and 11% hindus. All the participants of the study said that they know about organ donation. In the study population 99% said they heard about organ donation. Only 35% said their religion allows organ donation.83% of the study population expressedthat there is a need for organ donation laws. In the study group when asked about the attitude towards your organ being donated 26% said they will never consider about organ donation.35% said they will think about it. While 31% said they will donate only under special circumstances and only 8% said that they will donate organ irrespective of circumstances. Conclusions:Its been shown in the study about the gaps in the awareness levels of medical student knowledge about organ donation . These findings draw attention to a need to review medical school curricula to ensure that they contain sufficient teaching on organ donation, with a focus on information needed by physicians to maximize donation rates. This can be utilized as a strategy for the shortage of donor organs for transplantation.