Awareness of students at the University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek regarding the opt-out law on organ donation after brain death

Abstract

SUMMARY Research objective To investigate the awareness of students at the University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer (JJS) in Osijek regarding the current opt-out law on organ donation after brain death in Croatia. Methods and participants One thousand one hundred and five students from the University of JJS in Osijek participated in this cross-sectional study conducted from February 2 to 19, 2023. Data were collected using an online questionnaire the authors created via the snowball method. Statistical analysis was conducted using the χ 2 test, with statistical significance at P < 0.05. Results The students’ median age was 22 years (interquartile range 21 – 23), with 71.6% being females. Twenty-two point five percent of students believed that they knew the current law in Croatia regarding organ donation after brain death, while 21% really knew the correct explanation of that law. Seventy-eight point three percent were familiar with the explanation of brain death, 31% knew the stance of the Catholic Church on organ transplantation, 48.9% were aware that organ donation for material gain is prohibited in Croatia, and 30.5% knew of Croatia’s high ranking in Europe and globally in terms of organ donation and transplantation (per million inhabitants). Students from the medical, other health-related, and law school significantly more often believed that they knew the current law ( P < 0.001), understood the explanation of the law ( P < 0.001), knew the definition of brain death ( P < 0.001), knew the stance of the Catholic Church on organ transplantation ( P = 0.013) and were aware that Croatia ranks high in Europe and globally in terms of organ donation and transplantation ( P < 0.001) compared to respondents from other faculties. Conclusion Students demonstrated a limited understanding of the opt-out law regarding organ donation after brain death. Consequently, they often remained unaware of being donors themselves after brain death, unless they expressively stated otherwise during their lifetime. Still, medical, other health-related and law students, demonstrated superior knowledge, but more education remains necessary.