Organ donation: Knowledge and attitudes of Health College and other departments' students in a Turkish University
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Date
2012
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Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was assess knowledge and attitudes on organ donation both in the Health College and other departments' students of the university. Methods: The study was carried out among the students enrolled in the Health College (1 st group) and the other departments (2 nd group) of the same university. A total of 609 university students were taken in the sample group. A questionnaire, with 19 questions, was developed by the researchers after reviewing the literature. Data evaluated with Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Results: 90.6% of the students in the 1 st group and 83% of those in the 2 nd group were informed about organ donation. Willingness to donate was significantly higher among the 2 nd group students (46%) than the 1 st group (35.6%). However, while 4.2% of the 1 st group students said that they carried legal donor cards, only 0.7% of the 2 nd group students did so. 44.3% of the 1 st group and 70% of the 2 nd group said they did not know where to apply to become organ donors. 60.2% of the 1 st group and 66.7% of the 2 nd group reported that organ donation to be religiously appropriate. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate the need for more information and education to prepare university students about organ donation. Especially, the next generation of health care professionals must be targeted.