Abstract

Background

Organ transplantation is the most effective therapy for end-stage organ failure, but there is an organ shortage due to increasing demand and decreasing availability for a multitude of reasons. We investigated awareness and attitudes toward organ donation among university students, who may be future donors.

Methods

We did a cross-sectional study involving students at An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, occupied Palestinian territory, between December, 2018, and April, 2019. Sociodemographic data and information about knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation were collected with a self-administered validated questionnaire in Arabic. Students were recruited by proportionate stratified random sampling from all 11 university faculties. Convenience sampling was used to obtain the final study sample. All respondents provided written informed consent to participate. SPSS version 21 was used to perform the χ² test and ANOVA and the significance level was set at p<0·05. The study was approved by the An-Najah National University Institutional Review Board.

Findings

472 students (207 men and 265 women) were included in the study. The mean age of respondents was 21 (SD 3·06) years. 433 (92%) were undergraduates and 39 (8%) were postgraduates. 467 (99%) participants had heard about organ donation. The most common source of information, reported by 261 (56%) students, was mass media (television, internet, newspapers, etc). 360 (76%) of respondents had a positive attitude toward organ donation while alive, with altruism being the most prevalent motivation 276 (77%). Willingness to help a family member was the most common reason for living donation (108 [30%] respondents). 61 (13%) replied that they would donate organs for money. 330 (70%) of 472 reported knowledge of possible risks related to living organ donation, including general weakness 56 (17%) and infection 36 (11%). Willingness to donate after death was reported by 302 (64%) of 472 respondents. We found significant associations between this choice and sex (p=0·023) and type of faculty (p=0·01). 257 (55%) of 472 did not know whether there is any national law regulating organ donation and 274 (58%) did not know the religious position. Of those positive about donation, 184 (61%) of 302 willing to donate after death said that consent to use organs could be provided by a family member, whereas 266 (74%) of 360 willing to be living donors would make the decision themselves. 148 (31%) would not promote organ donation mainly due to concerns about possible misuse (44 [30%]) and fear of organ trafficking (46 [31%]). Among the sample, one respondent had donated a kidney to a family member.

Interpretation

The responses to our survey a good level of awareness and knowledge about organ donation among university students. Increased information and discussion on the risks and consequences of organ donation, the relevant legislation, and the position of religion are indicated, especially in the mass media. Finally, addressing the fears, mistrust, and misinformation among students, who are viewed as an educated segment of society and a force for change in their communities, may convert them into goodwill ambassadors for the organ donation cause.

Funding

None.

Contributors

SB designed the project protocol. RA and NA collected the data. SB, RA, and NA applied for ethical approval and analysed the data. All authors contributed to the writing of the Abstract and read and approved the final version for publication.

Declaration of interests

We declare no competing interests.

Acknowledgments

We thank all participants who facilitated the information and An-Najah National University for its support.

Title

The Lancet

Publisher

Elsevier

Publisher Country

United Kingdom

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

202.731

Publication Type

Prtinted only

Volume

399

Year

2022

Pages

S3