Organ Donation Awareness Project for Piedmont High School Students

ForewordLaw no. 91 of April 1, 1999 confirmed the principle of citizens' free choice and awareness with regards the donation of their own organs and tissue. Many studies have shown that information/communication programs aimed at secondary school students are able to significantly increase their propensity toward donation. Students who are made more aware of the topics of donation and transplantation are, in turn, a means of information for their families and acquaintances.MethodsTo be effective, communication must contain both cognitive and emotional elements. This is the principle underlying the development of an awareness-building project that involves the viewing of a play—“Two of Hearts”—telling the story of a transplant patient, followed by a brief scientific presentation aimed at clarifying the basic concepts of transplantation medicine, and then an open discussion between the students and experts. This initiative was promoted by the Piedmont Regional Tissue and Organ Procurement Coordination Agency, the Communication Office of the Piedmont Region, and the Regional Education Office for Piedmont.ResultsSeven meetings took place in the main town of each of the provinces that make up the Piedmont Region. These were attended by a total of 1373 students, who were each given an anonymous questionnaire. In all, 785 returned the questionnaire; of these, 95% affirmed that the contents of the meeting had been clearly presented, and 57% stated that they had spoken about it with their family and friends. The project proved be a good tool for communicating with young people and, via them, with their families; at least 2300 people were reached in this way.