title: The level of acceptance of spanish medical students of the transplantation of solid organs from animals: a stratified and multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research into the transplantation of solid organs from animals (xenotransplantation) is generating interest and curiosity given that this could be a way of resolving the shortage in transplant organs. However, the fact is that currently xenotransplantation is far from becoming a clinical practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the attitude of medical students from Spanish universities towards the donation of organs from animals and to determine the factors affecting their attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  A sociological, interdisciplinary, observational and multicentre study in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students enrolled on the medical degree in Spain (n = 34 000).
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 9598 students (a confidence level of 99% and precision of ± 1%) stratified by geographical area and academic year. Instrument of measurement: A validated questionnaire of attitude towards organ xenotransplantation (PCID-XenoTx RIOS) which was self-administered and completed anonymously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A completion rate of 95.7% (n = 9275) was obtained. If the results of xenotransplantation were as good as in human donation, 81% (n = 7491) would be in favour, 3% (n = 308) against and 16% (n = 1476) undecided. The following variables affected this attitude: sex (P < 0.001); academic year (P < 0.001); discussion of transplantation with one's family (P < 0.001) and friends (P < 0.001); the opinion of one's partner (P < 0.001); the respondent's attitude towards organ donation (P < 0.001); religion (P < 0.001); and participation in altruistic activities (P < 0.001). The following variables persisted in the multivariate analysis: (1) being a female (OR = 1.794; P < 0.001); (2) academic year (OR = 2.487; P < 0.001); (3) having spoken about the issue with one's family (OR = 1.200; P = 0.019); (4) the favourable opinion of one's partner (OR = 1.526; P = 0.028); (5) an attitude in favour of donation (OR = 2.087; P < 0.001); (6) being an atheist/agnostic, (OR = 2.5; P < 0.001); and (7) a belief that one's religion is in favour of transplantation (OR = 1.317; P = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spanish medical students have a favourable attitude towards xenotransplantation. This willingness and interest could be a decisive platform for the development and strengthening of research, both for centres with a pre-clinical xenotransplantation programme and new healthcare centres.
authors.affiliation: International Collaborative Donor Project ("Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante"), Murcia, Spain.|Department of Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.|Transplant Unit, Surgery Service, IMIB - Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain.|Regional Transplant Centre, Consejería de Sanidad y Consumo de la Región de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.affiliation: International Collaborative Donor Project ("Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante"), Murcia, Spain.|Department of Psychology, Universidad Católica San Antonio (UCAM), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Navas
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, San Juan University Hospital of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Navarra, Navarra, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iriarte
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herruzo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía HBP y Trasplante Hepático, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Badajoz, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Llorca
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía, Ciencias Médicas y Sociales, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alcalá Campus Científico-Tecnológico, Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asunsolo
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología (Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias, CHUC) y Departamento de Cirugía (Universidad de La Laguna, ULL) San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro Ramón
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: de Jesús
authors.affiliation: International Collaborative Donor Project ("Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante"), Murcia, Spain.|Transplant Unit, Surgery Service, IMIB - Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez Alarcón
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Área de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología y Fisiología Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y del Deporte, Universidad de Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2656-6750
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Virseda
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yelamos
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bondía
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Unidad de Docencia y Formación Continuada, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Servicio Murciano de Salud, El Palmar, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío, León, Mexico.|HGSZ No. 10 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social Delegación Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6603-1799
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramis
authors.affiliation: International Collaborative Donor Project ("Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante"), Murcia, Spain.|Department of Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.|Transplant Unit, Surgery Service, IMIB - Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain.|Regional Transplant Centre, Consejería de Sanidad y Consumo de la Región de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.|Transplant Unit, Surgery Service, IMIB - Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pascual
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Spain; attitude; medical students; organ donation; psycho-social variables; transplant; university; xenotransplantation