Knowledge of medical students on organ donation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spontaneous knowledge of medical students about organ donation. METHODS: 518 students of a medical school in Sao Paulo city, from the first-year to internship, answered an objective questionnaire applied through electronic media to assess their spontaneous theoretical knowledge and organ donation awareness. RESULTS: Organs that can be donated after brain death, such as the cornea, kidneys, heart, liver, and lung were mentioned by the students. Regarding in-life transplantation, they answered it was possible to donate mainly the kidney (91.3%), part of the liver (81.1%), and bone marrow (79.7%). Although it was not expressive, we also noted that their knowledge gradually increased as they reached the end of the course. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students knowledge on organ donation in life and after death was a little superior to 60%. The students had limited exposure to this subject during the course (<40% of them before the internship). The authors suggest that students should be more exposed to the theme of "organ donation" in the medical curriculum.

Knowledge of medical students on organ donation

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spontaneous knowledge of medical students about organ donation. METHODS: 518 students of a medical school in Sao Paulo city, from the first-year to internship, answered an objective questionnaire applied through electronic media to assess their spontaneous theoretical knowledge and organ donation awareness. RESULTS: Organs that can be donated after brain death, such as the cornea, kidneys, heart, liver, and lung were mentioned by the students. Regarding in-life transplantation, they answered it was possible to donate mainly the kidney (91.3%), part of the liver (81.1%), and bone marrow (79.7%). Although it was not expressive, we also noted that their knowledge gradually increased as they reached the end of the course. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students knowledge on organ donation in life and after death was a little superior to 60%. The students had limited exposure to this subject during the course (<40% of them before the internship). The authors suggest that students should be more exposed to the theme of "organ donation" in the medical curriculum.

RESUMO OBJETIVOS: Analisar o conhecimento espontâneo dos graduandos de medicina sobre doação de órgãos. MÉTODOS: A pesquisa foi realizada com 518 graduandos de medicina do 1º ao 6º ano de uma faculdade de medicina da cidade de São Paulo (FM-SP). Os indivíduos responderam a um questionário de múltiplas alternativas aplicado por mídia eletrônica, para avaliar o conhecimento teórico espontâneo e o grau de conscientização sobre doação de órgãos. RESULTADOS: Órgãos que podem ser doados após a morte encefálica, como a córnea, rins, coração, fígado e pulmão foram, em sua maioria, de conhecimento dos estudantes. Em vida, os alunos responderam que era possível a doação sobretudo de rim (91,3%), parte do fígado (81,1%) e medula óssea (79,7%). Pudemos notar também que o conhecimento aumentou gradualmente no decorrer do curso, mas não de forma expressiva. CONCLUSÕES: O conhecimento dos graduandos sobre doação de órgãos em vida e após a morte foi pouco superior a 60%. A exposição dos alunos ao tema foi baixa durante o curso (<40% deles até o 5º ano). Os autores sugerem que deveria haver maior exposição dos alunos ao tema "doação de órgãos" na grade curricular do curso médico.