Antonio Ríos1,2,3,4, A López-Navas1,5, A López-López6, F J Gómez7, J Iriarte8, R Herruzo9, G Blanco10, F J Llorca11, A Asunsolo12, P Sánchez13, P R Gutiérrez14, A Fernández15, M T de Jesús16, L Martínez Alarcón1,3, M Del Olivo17, L Fuentes18, J R Hernández19, J Virseda20, J Yelamos21, J A Bondía13, A M Hernández22, M A Ayala23,24, P Ramírez1,2,3,4, P Parrilla2,3. 1. 1 International Collaborative Donor Project ("Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante"), Murcia, Spain. 2. 2 Department of Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. 3. 3 Transplant Unit, Surgery Service, IMIB-Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain. 4. 4 Regional Transplant Centre, Consejería de Sanidad y Consumo, Murcia, Spain. 5. 5 Department of Psychology, Universidad Católica San Antonio (UCAM), Murcia, Spain. 6. 6 San Juan University Hospital of Alicante, Alicante, Spain. 7. 7 Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. 8. 8 Universidad de Navarra, Navarra, Spain. 9. 9 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. 10. 10 Liver Transplant Unit, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Badajoz, Spain. 11. 11 Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain. 12. 12 Department of Surgery, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. 13. 13 Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain. 14. 14 Department of Surgery, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. 15. 15 Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas Básicas, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. 16. 16 Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain. 17. 17 Medicine Faculty, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain. 18. 18 Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain. 19. 19 Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias, Spain. 20. 20 Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain. 21. 21 Department of Immunology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. 22. 22 Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. 23. 23 Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío, León, Guanajuato, Mexico. 24. 24 HGSZ No. 10 del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social Delegación Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Abstract
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.
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.
Entities:
Keywords:
attitude; brain death; medical students; organ donation; psychosocial factors; university