title: Are veterinary students in favour of xenotransplantation? Comparative opinion study in a Brazilian and a Spanish university.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The shortage of organs has made it necessary to search for new alternatives such as xenotransplantation. However, the use of animal organs could be opposed by society and the personnel involved in its implementation. This study aimed to analyze the attitude of veterinary degree students in a Brazilian university towards xenotransplantation, to determine factors that affect its acceptance, and to compare the attitudes among a control group of veterinary degree students in a Spanish university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 422 students registered for a veterinary course from 2010 to 2011, 374 were surveyed with a questionnaire completion rate of 89%. Attitudes were evaluated using a validated questionnaire that was self-administered administered anonymously. The process was coordinated by an independent health care worker. We applied the student t and the chi-squared-tests for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  If xenotransplantation was confirmed as a clinical reality, 90% (n = 338) of Brazilian students would accept the use of a xenotransplanted organ; 94% (n = 350), tissue; and 97% (n = 360), cell xenotransplantation. Attitudes toward xenotransplantation were not determined by the academic year, any psychosocial variable, or attitudes toward deceased human organ donation (P = .167). However, the attitudes would be affected by a belief that the transplanted animal organ would not change anything (P = .001). Interaction with other people was also related to more favorable attitudes (P = .015). Subjects who expressed a more favorable attitude tended to more readily accept cell (P = .000) or tissue xenotransplantation (P = .000). In Spain (control group), the results were similar: 91% (n = 436) would accept a xenotransplantation; 95% (n = 457) tissue; and 97% (n = 467), cell xenotransplantation. Also, this attitude was not affected by the academic year, any psychosocial variable, or attitude toward organ donation (P = .779).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Brazilian and Spanish veterinary students had favorable attitudes toward xenotransplantation.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brasil. Impascoal@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Alarcón
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramis
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Quereda
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Abellaneda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saez-Acosta
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D013030:Spain; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014495:Universities; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D000078329:Workforce