Medical Students’ Attitudes Toward Deceased Organ Donation in China: A Cross Section Cohort Study

Abstract

BackgroundInfluenced by traditional culture and lack of knowledge among Chinese, China has a low rate of organ donation after death. The aims of this study were to assess the attitude toward deceased organ donation among medical students in China and to identify the possible factors related with this attitude. MethodsAn anonymous, self-administered questionnaire comprising 15 questions was distributed to 1500 first-to-fifth grade medical students, with 300 students in each grade. ResultsThe response rate was 90.9% (n = 1363). The level of knowledge about organ donation and the level of knowledge about the transplantation law were positively related with the seniority (P < .001). The attitude was favorable in 62.7% (n = 855) and against in 37.3% (n = 508) of the respondents. The attitude was related with family discussion about organ donation (P = .002), experience of blood donation (P = .004), willingness to accept a donated deceased organ (P < .001), and the decision of donating the organs of a family member (P < .001). No evidence of relation was detected for age, sex, grade, being an only child, coming from a city or village, knowledge of organ transplantation, knowledge of the transplantation law, and experience of organ donation and transplantation. ConclusionsMost medical students in China had a favorable attitude toward deceased organ donation. This attitude was positively related with family factors, experience of blood donation, and willingness to accept a donated deceased organ. This attitude did not increase with seniority and a rising level of medical knowledge.