General Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Organ Donation in a Sample of Mexican Medical and Nursing Students ; Conocimientos generales y actitudes hacia la donación de órganos en una muestra de estudiantes mexicanos de medicina y de enfermería ; Conhecimentos gerais e atitudes para a doação de órgãos em uma amostra de estudantes mexicanos de medicina e de enfermagem

Introduction: For many patients, organ transplantation is the only alternative available to them in order to achieve extended survival with a good quality of life. However, there is a significant shortage of organs available for transplantation and Mexico has one of the lowest organ donation rates. In many cases, physicians and nurses retain contact with potential donors’ relatives who are key persons in facilitating the posthumous organ donation process. The objective of this study was to explore what knowledge and attitudes Mexican medical and nursing students have toward organ donation. Materials and methods: Three hundred eighty-four students completed two questionnaires, one about organ donation knowledge and the other about attitudes toward organ donation. Results: Participants, especially nursing students, showed an inadequate level of knowledge about organ donation. Many of them falsely believe that it is possible to recover from brain death. Most students also falsely believe that there is an age limitation for organ donation and that prevailing religions in Mexico are opposed to organ donation. There was a negative correlation between knowledge of and unfavorable attitudes toward organ donation. Conclusions: It may be necessary to review current school curriculum to ensure that future health professionals are appropriately educated about organ donation and can promote donation to help reduce the shortage of organs. ; Introducción: muchas personas tienen en el trasplante de órganos su única alternativa para lograr sobrevivir con una buena calidad de vida. Sin embargo, existe una gran escasez de órganos para trasplantes, y México posee una de las tasas más bajas de donación. El personal de medicina y de enfermería está en contacto con los familiares de los posibles donadores y son personas clave para facilitar el proceso de donación de órganos post mortem. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar el conocimiento y las actitudes hacia la donación de órganos en estudiantes mexicanos de ...