Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of nursing education on the opinion of students regarding organ donation and to offer suggestions according to the outcomes.
Methods: The study design was a descriptive study. The sample of this study consisted of 743 voluntary grade 1 and 4 students in nursing schools of 5 universities, and 47.4% were grade 1 students and 53.6% were grade 4 students. The data were obtained via a questionnaire that had been prepared by the researchers in reference to the literature and based on expert opinion. The data obtained were evaluated electronically by descriptive statistics and a chi-square test.
Results: It was determined that 82% of the students were willing to donate their organs. The leading causes for unwillingness to donate organs included preference to maintain body integrity, concerns about organ trafficking and the notion that the decision about their death would be rendered earlier because of organ removal. It was determined that the knowledge and sources of information of students regarding organ donation significantly increased in the course of nursing education (p=0.000).
Conclusion: Nursing education positively affects the opinions of students regarding organ donation. The positive attitudes of the nurses of the future, who have an important role in public education, will positively affect their approach toward the patient with brain death, as well as the decision process of families for organ donation, and consequently may increase the rate of organ donation.