title: Gerundium: A Comprehensive Public Educational Program on Organ Donation and Transplantation and Civil Law in Hungary.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Organ transplantation has become an organized, routine, widely used method in the treatment of several end-stage diseases. Kidney transplantation means the best life-quality and longest life expectancy for patients with end-stage renal diseases. Transplantation is the only available long-term medical treatment for patients with end-stage liver, heart, and lung diseases. Despite the number of transplantations increasing worldwide, the needs of the waiting lists remain below expectations.
  
  
  METHODS
  One of the few methods to increase the number of transplantations is public education. In cooperation with the University of Debrecen Institute for Surgery Department of Transplantation, the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service Organ Coordination Office, and the Local Committee Debrecen of Hungarian Medical Students' International Relations Committee (HuMSIRC), the Gerundium, a new educational program, has been established to serve this target. Gerundium is a special program designed especially for youth education. Peer education means that age-related medical student volunteers educate their peers during interactive unofficial sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Volunteers were trained during specially designed training. Medical students were honored by HuMSIRC, depending on their activity on the basis of their own regulations. Uniform slides and brochures to share were designed. Every Hungarian secondary school was informed. The Local Committee Budapest of HuMSIRC also joined the program, which helps to expand our activity throughout Hungary. The aim of the program is public education to help disperse disapproval, if presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a multiple effect, our program promotes medical students to have better skills in the field of transplantation, presentation, and communication skills. Our program is a voluntary program with strong professional support and is free of charge for the community.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgery, University of Debrecen, Hungary. Electronic address: drkovacsdavid@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D Á
authors.initials: DÁ
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.affiliation: Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service, Organ Coordination Office, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mihály
authors.affiliation: Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajczy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgery, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zsom
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgery, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zádori
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgery, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fedor
authors.affiliation: Hungarian Medical Students' International Relations Committee Local Committee, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eszter
authors.affiliation: Hungarian Medical Students' International Relations Committee Local Committee, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Enikő
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgery, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Asztalos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgery, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nemes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D016730:Program Development; D012574:Schools; D013337:Students, Medical; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*