Attitude and Knowledge Toward Organ Donation among University Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest Iran

Objectives: We evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers surrounding organ donation among medical students in southwest Iran. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was prepared for this sociological and cross-sectional study. Our study included 136 student participants (mean age of 24.6 ± 2.3 years). Most students were men (55.1%) in year 7 of studies (23.5%) in Shiraz in southwestern Iran. Results: Among 136 participants, 86.6% (n = 118) indicated support for organ donation, 9.6% (n = 13) were uncertain, and 3.7% (n = 5) did not support organ donation. Few students (16.9%) understood the organ donation system. The awareness level of the country’s current organ donation system among participants in different years of studies did not differ (P >.050). Almost 69.9% of the participants (n = 95) stated that doctors should promote organ donation to the general public. Conclusions: Health care professionals have a vital role in increasing the number of organ donors. Educational programs would enhance medical students’ knowledge and attitudes about organ donation and transplan-tation. In addition to the influence of health care professionals, the support of the media and religious leaders should also be noted to boost organ donation.