Survey of the Knowledge, Perception, and Attitude of Medical Students at the University of Leeds Toward Organ Donation and Transplantation

•Students have a basic understanding of ODT.•Knowledge did not vary between the different year groups.•Students desire further teaching to supplement their current knowledge.•Medical schools need to review their curriculum content on ODT.

BackgroundThe shortage of organ donors is the key rate-limiting factor for organ transplantation in the United Kingdom. Many strategies have been proposed to increase donation; one strategy aims to improve awareness of organ donation and transplantation (ODT) among medical students. This survey seeks to investigate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of the medical students in the United Kingdom toward ODT and the curriculum content.MethodsA 32-item online questionnaire was distributed to 957 medical students at the University of Leeds (October to December 2012).ResultsThere were 216 (22.6%) respondents. Students were aware of kidney, heart, and liver transplantation (91.6%, 88.8%, and 86.5%). Awareness of small intestine (36.7%) and islet of Langerhans (33.0%) transplantation was poor. Students understood the term “brain stem death” (82.3%); however, they lacked understanding of criteria used for brain stem death testing (75.8%). Their perceptions and attitudes were favorable toward ODT; 43.3% of the students were unhappy with their current knowledge, and 87.6% of the students agree that ODT teaching should be included in the curriculum.ConclusionsStudents have a basic understanding of ODT but lack detailed knowledge. They accept its importance and desire further teaching to supplement their current knowledge to be able to understand the issues related to ODT.