Body Donation Awareness in Eastern Uttar Pradesh: A Cross-sectional Study among Medical Students, Practitioners, and Support Staff

Abstract

Introduction: Cadavers play a crucial role in facilitating the study of anatomy, as a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy necessitates the dissection of human bodies. Additionally, cadavers are utilised for advanced laboratory work, workshops, and the training of surgical science postgraduates. With the rapid proliferation of medical colleges across the nation and the existing institutions striving to increase their student intake, the supply of unclaimed bodies may no longer be adequate to meet the demands of these institutions. Consequently, the necessity for voluntary body donation becomes increasingly pertinent. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and awareness regarding body donation among 1st-year MBBS students, healthcare professionals/doctors, and non teaching staff of a teaching institution in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Varun Arjun Medical College and Rohilkhand Hospital, Banthra, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The total number of study participants (n=230) was divided into three groups: 1st-year MBBS students (n=90), healthcare professionals/ doctors (n=70), and non teaching staff (n=70). A self-designed and structured questionnaire containing 15 questions was used in the study. Data were recorded in an Excel sheet and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26.0 (Chicago, Inc, USA). Results: In the MBBS and Doctors groups, all participants demonstrated familiarity with the study topic, while 95.7% of the non teaching group reported being unacquainted with the concept of body donation. Regarding the purpose of body donation, both MBBS students and Doctors indicated the dual purposes of organ donation/transplantation and medical teaching and research. Male respondents exhibited a notably positive attitude (96.6%) towards both purposes without reservation, while females showed a stronger inclination towards organ donation. When questioned about the procedure for donating the body, the MBBS students and non teaching staff displayed a lack of awareness regarding the process, with 89.5% of doctors being knowledgeable about the donation procedure. Conclusion: Despite the considerable level of awareness regarding body donation, there exists a notable lack of motivation, which could be addressed through effective sensitisation and education initiatives. Enhancing the scenario of insufficient body donations could be accomplished through targeted awareness campaigns utilising both print and electronic media.