Organ Donation: The Need for Life-Saving Awareness and Education

Organ transplantation emerges as a vital process for individuals experiencing irreversible organ failure. However, organ donation is one of the most critical points of this process. While demand is rapidly increasing, the number of donated organs remains insufficient. Although there has been an increase in organ donation in Turkey in recent years, it is noted that the country lags behind global standards in terms of deceased organ donations. At this point, healthcare professionals, especially nursing students, play a key role in promoting organ donation and raising societal awareness.

The Perspective of Nursing and Midwifery Students on Organ Donation

Research provides important findings aimed at understanding the attitudes of nursing and midwifery students towards organ donation. A significant proportion of students are noted to be hesitant or uninterested in organ donation. The main reasons for these hesitations include personal beliefs, family background, and especially religious reasons. Understanding these attitudes is critically important for future healthcare professionals to guide society towards organ donation.

Education and Awareness: The Key to Promoting Organ Donation

According to research, although there are high levels of positive attitudes towards organ donation among nursing and midwifery students, there is a noticeable lack of willingness to donate. To bridge the gap between attitude and action, the necessity of continuous education emphasizing the importance of organ donation comes to the forefront. In this context, increasing the knowledge levels of nursing and midwifery students about organ donation and creating awareness in society on this issue is of vital importance for adopting a more conscious approach in the healthcare sector.

Increasing societal awareness of organ donation will be possible especially with the active participation of healthcare professionals. Turning students' attitudes into positive ones and increasing their tendency to donate can save the lives of many patients waiting for organ transplants.

Study Link: https://www.ectrx.org/detail/supplement/2024/22/1/1/213/0