Organ donation is one of the greatest medical marvels of the twentieth century which has saved the lives of several patients. The disparity between the huge demands for the organs and their poor supply is the main issue. The total organ donation shortage in our country can be met even if only few victims involved in fatal accidents serve as organ donors. Organ donation and successful retrieval of life saving organs is a complex process involving co-ordination of multiple transplant teams [1].

Organ donation is a unique social activity that has direct influence on the delivery of healthcare to a wide range of patients. Transplantation and its known therapeutic benefits are not possible without the cooperation and support of healthcare professionals, government and society as a whole. Transplantation is the treatment of choice that improves life expectancy and quality of life. The donation and transplantation system represents a complex practice and is dependent on individual attitudes, social structures, cultural practices and religious beliefs [2].

Organ donation is the process when a person allows an organ of their own to be removed and transplanted to another person, legally, either by consent while the donor is alive or dead with the assent of the next of kin. Donation may be for research or, more commonly, healthy transplantable organs and tissues may be donated to be transplanted into another person [3].

Objectives of the Study:

• To assess the existing knowledge regarding organ donation among students in Government Degree College Sanjauli, Shimla (H.P.)

• To determine the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program on the knowledge regarding organ donation among students in Government Degree College Sanjauli, Shimla (H.P.)

• To find out association between post-test knowledge scores with their selected demographic variables

• Research Approach: Quantitative approach

• Research Design: Pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design

• Setting of the Study: Government Degree College, Sanjauli, Shimla, H.P.

• Study Population: Students of Government Degree College, Sanjauli, Shimla, H.P.

• Sample Size: 60 students

• Sampling Technique: Convenient sampling technique

Informed consent was taken from Students of Government Degree College and confidentiality of students was also maintained.

Inclusive Criteria

Students who were studying in Government Degree College, Sanjauli, students who were willing to participate, students who were present at the time of study.

Exclusive Criteria

Students who were not willing to participate, students who were not present at the time of study.

Development of Tool: Knowledge Related Questionnaire (40)

Section A-Socio-demographic characteristics of the students (age, gender, stream, religion, type of family, education of father, education of mother, residential area, previous knowledge and source of information regarding organ donation). Section B- There were forty structured knowledge questionnaire having four options. Score of “one” for every right answer and “zero” for every wrong answer was given. The maximum score was 40 and minimum score was zero. Scoring was done on the basis of marks as <50% (<20) = Poor, 51-75% (21-30) = Average, >75% (31-40) = Good.

Validity of tool- By the experts from different fields

Permission- Obtained from the Principal of the college.

Ethical Consideration

Ethical approval was taken from Ethical committee of Sister Nivedita Government Nursing College, IGMC, Shimla for conducting the study.

Data Collection

Was done in the month of September 2021. Students were divided into 2 groups (odd and even group). Pre-test and Structured teaching Program was given on same day and on 8^th day post-test was taken.

Data Analysis

With appropriate statistical test in terms of frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation and Chi-square test.

Table 1 depicts that with regard to age, majority 65% study subjects were in the age group of 17-19 years followed by 35% in the age group >19-21 years and none were in the age group >21-23 years, Majority 58.3% study subjects were females whereas 41.7% study subjects were males, 80% were from medical stream followed by 20% study subjects who were from non-medical stream, majority 91.7% were Hindu followed by 8.3% Sikhs and none were in the category of Muslim and others, majority of study subjects 68.3% were from nuclear family and 31.7% study subjects were from joint family, 51.7% were matriculation-senior secondary followed by 33.3% were graduate-postgraduate, 8.3% were above postgraduation, 6.7% were primary-middle and none were in the category of no formal education, 60% were matriculation-senior secondary, 28.3% were graduate-postgraduate, 8.3% were primary-middle, 3.3% were having no formal education and none was in the category of above postgraduation, equal share of study subjects i.e. 50% from urban area and 50% from rural area, maximum number of study subjects 56.7% had no previous knowledge regarding organ donation whereas 43.3% had   previous  knowledge  regarding   organ   donation. 

Table 1: Socio-Demographic Variables of Students

Table 2: Knowledge Score of Students Regarding Organ Donation

Table 3: Comparison of Pre-Test and Post-Test Knowledge Score Regarding Organ Donation

*p<0.001 Significant

Table 4: Association of Pre-Test Knowledge Scores of Students with Selected Socio Demographic Variables

Table 5: Association of Post-Test Knowledge Scores of Students with Selected Socio Demographic Variables.

Table 5: Continue

Analyzing the source of information, 33.3% study subjects had information from mass media and newspaper, 6.7% study subjects had information from health professionals, 3.3% study subjects had information from family friends and members whereas none had attended workshops, seminars and conferences (Table 2).

Results revealed that in pre-test majority 70% subjects had poor knowledge, 30% had average knowledge and none had good knowledge whereas in post-test 3.3% subjects had poor knowledge, 81.7% had average knowledge and 15% had good knowledge regarding organ donation (Table 3).

Table 4 depicts that there was no significant association between pre-test knowledge scores and the demographic variables i.e. age, gender, stream, religion, type of family, education of father, education of mother, residential area, previous knowledge regarding organ donation and source of information at ‘p’ <0.05 level.

Table 5 depicts that there was a significant association between post-test knowledge demographic variable i.e. stream (c² = 4.344) at ‘p’ <0.001 level and there was no significant association between post-test knowledge score and the selected demographic variables i.e. age, gender, religion, type of family, education of father, education of mother, residential area, previous knowledge regarding organ donation and source of information.

The pre-test mean±SD was 17.30±3.815 and in post-test mean±SD was 27.53±4.208. The mean post-test knowledge score 27.53 was higher than mean pre-test knowledge score 17.30. The mean difference was 10.23. The calculated‘t’ test value 16.210 was greater than the table value 2.00 at ‘p’ <0.001 level of significance. This also clearly shows that the STP on knowledge regarding organ donation had significant improvement in their level of knowledge in post-test.

Findings of the present study were supported by the study findings of Nirmala et al. [4] which showed that the pre-test mean±SD was 8.47±2.65 and in post-test mean±SD was 9.89±3.54. The mean post-test knowledge score 9.89 was higher than mean pre-test knowledge score 8.47. The mean difference was 1.42. The calculated‘t’ test value 4.4170 was greater than the table value 3.131 at ‘p’ <0.001 level of significance [4].

The study concluded that the structured teaching program was effective in improving knowledge regarding organ donation among students.

Recommendations

• A large-scale study can be carried out with different demographic characteristics to generalize the findings

• A comparative study can be conducted to find effectiveness between structured teaching program and self-instructional module regarding organ donation

• A similar study can be conducted using different method of teaching

Repetitive periodic educational sessions regarding organ donation should be carried out to ensure that the public are aware about organ donation.

1. Nallusamy, S. et al. "Organ Donation-Current Indian Scenario." Journal of Practical Cardiovascular Sciences, vol. 4, no. 3, 2018, pp. 177–179. https://www.j-pcs.org/text.asp?2018/4/3/177/249941.

2. McGlade, D. and B. Pierscionek. "Can Education Alter Attitudes, Behaviour and Knowledge about Organ Donation? A Pretest-Post-Test Study." BMJ Open, vol. 3, no. 12, 2013, e003961. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003961.

3. "Organ Donation." Wikipedia, 26 June 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_donation.

4. Nirmala, M. et al. "Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Organ Donation among Young Adults in Selected College, Coimbatore." Journal of Scientific and Innovative Research, vol. 8, no. 3, 2019, pp. 91–93. https://www.jsir.journal.com.