Opinion and knowledge of students from a private university in the city of São Paulo about: Organ Donation and Transplantation

Abstract

Introduction: In order to a transplant to become feasible, it is essential to attain an organ from a donor, and this implies in the need of the family s consent. The effectiveness of the transplantation procedure depends on the knowledge of the population on the subject. Purpose: To assess the knowledge of students from University Sant`Anna in São Paulo on organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Method: A quantitative survey with a descriptive cross-sectional approach assessing students from University Sant’Anna in S o Paulo. 181 technical and graduating students were interviewed in many different study areas (Human/ Biological/ Exact Sciences). Results: From the total sampling, 42% responded to be organ donors, 46% are not organ donors and 12% chose not to respond. Most respondents replied their family is aware on wether their willingness to be or not donor. In the event they were responsible for deciding on the organ donation of organs of a close relative, 70% would grant the donation. Furthermore, most of the respondents were not aware as to brain death (BD). Conclusions: 46% respondents declared not being organ donors, and they asserted their family members are aware of their will. This fact is probably as most of them do not understand the brain death diagnosis, and do not rely on the distribution system. However, most of them would grant the donation if they were responsible for deciding on the donation of a close relative.