Attitude and behavior related to organ donation and affecting factors: a study of last-term students at a university.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to detect the behavior and attitude of our last-term students.


METHODS
The study group for this cross-sectional research consisted of 1690 last-term students. We applied a questionnaire about sociodemographic features, behaviors, and attitudes about organ donation. Data were evaluated with SPSS 11.0.


RESULTS
We accessed 1287 students among whom 1.3% stated that they would donate their organs. Among students who did not agree, 58.7% were considering donation. The main reasons for not agreeing to donation were fear of commercial use (45.7%) and the belief of inappropriateness related to religion (25.7%). In contrast, 62.3% stated that they would donate their organ when needed for their relatives. Also, 50.6% indicated that if one of their relatives died, they would donate their relative's organs; there was no significant difference based on gender. In addition, favorable thoughts about donation were significantly more prevalent for female subjects (P = .001). Organ donation behavior and thoughts were significantly higher among the group with better economic position (P = .001, .018); and for students whose mother had an education higher than high school (P = .003, .004). Higher donation ratios were observed for students who had a relative working in the medical field (P = .04) and the group who stated they were well informed about organ donation (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
When we take into account that our study group consisted of university students, organ donation rates were low. To overcome the difficulties, we have to inform the community and collaborate with religious organizations. To prevent fear that organs will be used commercially we must prove confidence in the system.
Sönmez
Y
Y
Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. yoncasonmez@yahoo.com
Zengin
E
E
Ongel
K
K
Kişioğlu
N
N
Oztürk
M
M
D001290:Attitude; D001519:Behavior; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D012067:Religion; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult