Awareness and Attitude Toward Eye Donation among Medical Students in Qassim University – A Cross-sectional Study, 2019

Sultan Abdulaziz Alzuhairy; Abdulrahman Sulaiman Alfarraj; Meshari Mubarak Alharbi; Raghad Juidan Alhomidani

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2020.3611

Authors

Sultan Abdulaziz Alzuhairy Department of Ophthalmology, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, Qassim – Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Sulaiman Alfarraj Intern, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Meshari Mubarak Alharbi Intern, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Raghad Juidan Alhomidani Medical Student, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.3611

Keywords:

Organ transplant, Eye donation, Cornea, Survey, Knowledge and Attitude

Abstract

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of awareness and attitude for eye donation among medical students of Qassim University.

METHODS: All medical students of Qassim University were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study in 2019. The survey contains 10 questions regarding knowledge for different aspects of eye donation, one question on their attitude to donate eye, and one question to specify reasons for reservation for eye donation which were inquired. Awareness score of 50% and more was defined as “good awareness.” Awareness was associated to variables such as gender, grade of medical school, and if they attended ophthalmology course.

RESULTS: Of the 600 students, 386 were surveyed. The good knowledge regarding eye donation was in 19.2% (95% CI 15.2; 23.1) participants. Attitude to donate eye was positive in 102 (26.4% [95% CI 22.0; 30.8]) participants. One hundred and seventy-nine (46.5%) participants were undecided for eye donation. The level of knowledge was positively and significantly associated to attitude to donate eyes. (OR = 2.44 [95% CI 1.4; 4.2], p = 0.001). The awareness was not associated to gender (p = 0.97) and years in medical college (p = 0.6). Attending ophthalmology course did not significantly affect the knowledge about eye donation (p = 0.8). Lack of adequate information was the main barrier among 146 (37.6%) students for their unwillingness for eye donation.

CONCLUSIONS: Awareness about eye donation among medical students was low. Health promotion, inclusion of eye donation in undergraduate curriculum, and ophthalmic training are recommended to improve both knowledge and attitude of medical student

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