M.A. Ayala

A Multicentre and stratified study of the attitude of medical students towards organ donation in Spain

ABSTRACT Introduction: Medical students represent a new generation of medical thought, and if they have a favourable attitude towards organ donation this will greatly encourage its promotion. Objective: To analyse the attitude of medical students in Spanish universities towards the donation of their own organs and to determine the factors affecting this attitude. Material and Methods: Type of study: A sociological, interdisciplinary, multicentre, and observational study in Spain. Study population: Students studying a degree in medicine enrolled in Spain (n = 34,000). Sample size: A sample of 9598 students (confidence of 99% and precision of ±1%), stratified by geographical area and academic year. Instrument of measurement: A validated questionnaire of attitude towards organ donation and transplantation (PCID-DTO RIOS) was self-administered and completed anonymously. Results: The questionnaire completion rate was 95.7% (n = 9.275). 80% were in favour of donation, 2% against and 18% were undecided. The following main variables were related to a favourable attitude: being of the female sex (Odds Ratio = 1.739); being in the sixth year of the degree (OR = 2.506); knowing a donor (OR = 1.346); having spoken about the subject with one’s family (OR = 2.132) and friends (OR = 1.333); having a family circle that is in favour, more specifically, having a father (OR = 1.841), mother (OR = 2.538) or partner in favour (OR = 2.192); being a blood donor (OR = 2.824); acceptance of the mutilation of the body if it were necessary (OR = 2.958); and being an atheist or an agnostic (OR = 1.766). Conclusions: Spanish medical students generally have a favourable attitude towards organ donation, although 20% are not in favour.

Acceptance of living liver donation among medical students: A multicenter stratified study from Spain

AIM To analyze the attitude of Spanish medical students toward living liver donation (LLD) and to establish which factors have an influence on this attitude. METHODS STUDY TYPE A sociological, interdisciplinary, multicenter and observational study. STUDY POPULATION Medical students enrolled in Spain (n = 34000) in the university academic year 2010-2011. SAMPLE SIZE A sample of 9598 students stratified by geographical area and academic year. Instrument used to measure attitude: A validated questionnaire (PCID-DVH RIOS) was self-administered and completed anonymously. Data collection procedure: Randomly selected medical schools. The questionnaire was applied to each academic year at compulsory sessions. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Student´s t test, χ(2) test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The completion rate was 95.7% (n = 9275). 89% (n = 8258) were in favor of related LLD, and 32% (n = 2937) supported unrelated LLD. The following variables were associated with having a more favorable attitude: (1) age (P = 0.008); (2) sex (P < 0.001); (3) academic year (P < 0.001); (4) geographical area (P = 0.013); (5) believing in the possibility of needing a transplant oneself in the future (P < 0.001); (6) attitude toward deceased donation (P < 0.001); (7) attitude toward living kidney donation (P < 0.001); (8) acceptance of a donated liver segment from a family member if one were needed (P < 0.001); (9) having discussed the subject with ones family (P < 0.001) and friends (P < 0.001); (10) a partners opinion about the subject (P < 0.001); (11) carrying out activities of an altruistic nature; and (12) fear of the possible mutilation of the body after donation (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Spanish medical students have a favorable attitude toward LLD.

The level of acceptance of spanish medical students of the transplantation of solid organs from animals: a stratified and multicentre study.

Research into the transplantation of solid organs from animals (xenotransplantation) is generating interest and curiosity given that this could be a way of resolving the shortage in transplant organs. However, the fact is that currently xenotransplantation is far from becoming a clinical practice.

Acceptance of organ xenotransplantation among Latin American immigrants resident in the United States.

Making xenotransplantation socially acceptable is the first step in working toward the promotion of this potential therapy option for providing transplant organs. Objective: To analyze the attitude toward xenotransplantation among the Latin American population resident in Florida (the USA), and to determine the variables affecting this attitude.

Are Dominicans in favor of xenotransplantation? A study of the attitude of immigrants resident in Spain and the United States

Xenotransplantation carries many social and cultural implications. The immigrant population in countries with xenotransplantation programs, such as Spain and the United States, will play an important role in accepting such therapy. The objective of the study is to analyze the attitude toward xenotransplantation among the Dominican population residing in the United States and Spain. METHODS The study population was born in the Dominican Republic and resides in the southeastern United States and Spain. A sample population older than 15 years was obtained randomly and stratified by age and sex. Attitude was assessed using a validated questionnaire on psychosocial aspects toward xenotransplantation (PCID-XENOTx-Ríos). A random selection of people to be surveyed was carried out. Assistance from immigration support associations was needed to advise on the location of potential respondents. RESULTS A total of 123 respondents were included in the study: A sample was taken of residents of the population from the Dominican Republic residing in Florida, United States (n = 66), and in Spain (n = 57). If it was assumed that xenotransplanted organs functioned as well as human ones, 30% would be in favor. If the results were worse, only 7% would be in favor. This favorable attitude was related to the following variables (P < .05): level of education, an attitude in favor of deceased and living organ donation, and having spoken about donation and transplantation within the family. CONCLUSIONS The attitude toward xenotransplantation among the population from the Dominican Republic who are residing in the southeastern United States and Spain is unfavorable.

Guinean residents in Spain are little aware about living-kidney-related donation

INTRODUCTION The number of Population of Guinea residents in Spain has increased significantly; however, there are no studies that analyze their awareness of transplantation and especially living kidney donation. OBJECTIVE To analyze the attitude toward living kidney donation among the Spanish resident population born in Guinea. METHODS People born in Guinea and residents in Spain were included in this study. A sample of population older than 15 years was obtained randomly and stratified by age and sex. Attitude was assessed using a validated questionnaire on psychosocial aspects with respect to living kidney donation (PCID-DVR-Rios). RESULTS Of the 170 respondents, 68% of respondents are in favor of related living kidney donation. The remaining 32% were against it or undecided. The results of the multivariable analysis indicated that respondents who were in favor of cadaveric organ donation and transplantation had a probability of being in favor of living kidney donation 10 times greater than those who were not in favor, and that respondents who had collaborated in prosocial activities had a probability of being in favor of living kidney donation that was 10,638 times greater than those who have not collaborated and will not collaborate in the future. CONCLUSIONS The attitude toward related living kidney donation among the population born in Guinea and residing in Spain is not very favorable compared with studies of attitude in the European and Spanish population, and it is associated with psychosocial factors.

Do Spanish Medical Students Understand the Concept of Brain Death

Objective: To analyze the level of understanding of the brain death concept among medical students in universities in Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional sociological, interdisciplinary, and multicenter study was performed on 9598 medical students in Spain. The sample was stratified by geographical area and academic year. A previously validated self-reported measure of brain death knowledge (questionnaire Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante sobre la Donación y Transplante de Organos) was completed anonymously by students. Results: Respondents completed 9275 surveys for a completion rate of 95.7%. Of those, 67% (n = 6190) of the respondents understood the brain death concept. Of the rest, 28% (n = 2652) did not know what it meant, and the remaining 5% (n = 433) believed that it did not mean that the patient was dead. The variables related to a correct understanding of the concept were: (1) being older (P < .001), (2) studying at a public university (P < .001), (3) year of medical school (P < .001), (4) studying at one of the universities in the south of Spain (P = .003), (5) having discussed donation and transplantation with the family (P < .001), (6) having spoken to friends about the matter (P < .001), (7) a partner’s favorable attitude toward donation and transplantation (P < .001), and (8) religious beliefs (P < .001). Conclusions: Sixty-seven percent of medical students know the concept of brain death, and knowledge improved as they advanced in their degree.