Organ donation and transplantation from medical students' perspective: introducing the experience from an academic league in Brazil.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Medical education is an important factor to decrease the waiting list for transplantation. Reports in the medical literature reveal limited notification of potential organ donors by general physicians. Appropriate information is also needed to increase the availability of potential donors and minimize the waiting list. This article describes the acquired experience with an extracurricular program of education on organ and tissue transplantation in our institution, searching to meet medical information needs using a format of an academic league. METHODS: This qualitative study describes a proposed approach on the theme of "transplant and organ and tissue donation" with medical students from a Brazilian university, through creation of a program named "Transplantation League" in direct association with a transplantation center. RESULTS: The league's activities are based on three main activities teaching, research, and practical. Besides the organization of the I Course of Organ and Tissue Transplantation, the project received financial support from the Federal University of Goiás to develop the assignments. A member's stake in the league included scientific projects involving liver transplantation candidates, as well as notification, donation, transportation, and transplantation of these patients. CONCLUSION: The academic league has the purpose of academic information on organ and tissues transplantation. Its application in medical schools may be valuable to increase transplant numbers.