An Interventional Health Education Study to Transition the General Population’s Opinion on Organ Donation From Reluctance to Acceptance

Abstract

Introduction: Organ donation refers to the collection of a human organ from a living or deceased donor and its transplantation into a recipient. An organ transplant recipient is a patient with organ failure who will not survive unless he receives a new organ. Although the benefits of organ transplantation are undeniable, there is a significant gap between the number of donors and recipients, as the demand for organs greatly surpasses the available supply.

Methodology: This interventional health education study aimed to increase awareness regarding organ donation through a survey consisting of pre- and post-questionnaires. The study included 226 participants from the general population of Tamil Nadu, aged 18 years or older and of both genders. The study was conducted over three months, from September to November 2023.

Results: Of the 226 study participants, 220 (97.30%) belong to the 18-40 age group, and 154 (68.1%) were female participants. Before the educational intervention, 132 (58.40%) participants were aware of organ donation. After the educational intervention, knowledge about the organ donation card increased from 101 (44.69%) participants to 152 (67.25%), and the inclination to donate organs rose from 128 (56.63%) to 151 (66.81%). Overall, awareness about organ donation improved from 132 (58.40%) to 175 (77.43%). The study noted that 128 (56.63%) participants viewed religious beliefs as a barrier to organ donation, a perception that remained unchanged, with 152 (67.25%) participants still holding this view even after the educational intervention. 

Conclusion: This interventional health education study aimed to inform the general population about the importance of organ donation in India, where road traffic accidents frequently lead to brain death, and a lack of awareness potentially limits organ donation opportunities. Despite high levels of education, many individuals remain reluctant to donate organs and lack an organ donor card. Although there is a strong willingness to donate, registration rates remain low, suggesting the presence of potential obstacles, such as religious beliefs and insufficient knowledge about organ donation. Implementing targeted educational campaigns that involve spiritual leaders and provide accurate data about organ donation is crucial. This could improve public awareness and participation. Implementing an opt-out system, wherein individuals are presumed willing to donate unless they explicitly decline, could significantly increase donor rates.