International Journal of Medicine and Health Development (Jan 2020)

Perspectives of clinical students toward organ donation and transplantation: A cross-sectional descriptive study in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

  • Vivian Uzoamaka Muoneke,
  • Dorathy Chinwe Obu,
  • Samuel Nkachukwu Uwaezuoke,
  • Uzoma Vivian Asiegbu,
  • Azubike A Anya,
  • Alfred Friday Una

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmh.IJMH_14_20
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 2
pp. 112 – 119

Abstract

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Background: The terminal stages of most chronic organ-related diseases are often characterized by end-stage organ failure. Organ donation with subsequent transplantation represents the best clinical practice. Although several studies on the knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward organ donation and transplantation have been conducted elsewhere, similar reports are few in Nigeria. Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of clinical students in a Nigerian tertiary hospital on organ donation and transplantation. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among clinical students of Ebonyi State Univesity (EBSU) Abakaliki at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) southeast Nigeria between January and July 2019, using standardized self-administered organ donation questionnaires. These questionnaires were self-administered to 204 medical students selected by systematic random sampling. The data were analyzed on descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The differences in proportions were tested for statistical significance with the chi-square test. Statistical significance was based on P value <0.05. Results: Majority (99.0%) of the students knew about organ donation and its indications and the common transplantable organs but believed the kidneys were the most commonly transplanted organs. Sixty four (31.4%) of the total students were willing to serve as donors because of “the need to save a life.” Students’ age (P = 0.78), year of study (P = 0.10), marital status (P = 0.15), and religion (P = 0.69) did not significantly influence their perspectives about organ donation and transplantation. However, gender (P < 0.001) and residential status (P = 0.02) had a significant influence. Conclusion: A substantial number of clinical students in this clime have the correct perspectives on organ donation and transplantation, irrespective of their sociodemographic characteristics.

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