title: Survey of the knowledge, perception, and attitude of medical students at the University of Leeds toward organ donation and transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The shortage of organ donors is the key rate-limiting factor for organ transplantation in the United Kingdom. Many strategies have been proposed to increase donation; one strategy aims to improve awareness of organ donation and transplantation (ODT) among medical students. This survey seeks to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of the medical students in the United Kingdom toward ODT and the curriculum content.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 32-item online questionnaire was distributed to 957 medical students at the University of Leeds (October to December 2012).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 216 (22.6%) respondents. Students were aware of kidney, heart, and liver transplantation (91.6%, 88.8%, and 86.5%). Awareness of small intestine (36.7%) and islet of Langerhans (33.0%) transplantation was poor. Students understood the term "brain stem death" (82.3%); however, they lacked understanding of criteria used for brain stem death testing (75.8%). Their perceptions and attitudes were favorable toward ODT; 43.3% of the students were unhappy with their current knowledge, and 87.6% of the students agree that ODT teaching should be included in the curriculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students have a basic understanding of ODT but lack detailed knowledge. They accept its importance and desire further teaching to supplement their current knowledge to be able to understand the issues related to ODT.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Department of Transplantation, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hakeem
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Department of Transplantation, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dave
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewington
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanfey
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Department of Transplantation, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom. Electronic address: niaz.ahmad@leedsth.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D055815:Young Adult