A survey on the attitudes of pharmacy students at Fukuoka University Hospital toward organ transplantation treatment

Abstract

After the Organ Transplantation Law came into effect in October 1997, there were approximately 800 organ donations from brain-dead patients reported in Japan by December 2021. This number was much lower than in Western countries because of the fewer opportunities for healthcare workers to learn about organ transplantation. The Department of Pharmacy at Fukuoka University Hospital conducted lectures on transplantation treatment during the fifth year of student practical training. It surveyed changes in student knowledge and attitudes toward brain death and organ donation. Between May 2018 and February 2019, 77 students completed an anonymous survey before and after a half-day training on the topic. Many students showed increased interest in transplantation treatment with the increased knowledge. Therefore, the improved education and information transmission through these lectures allowed students to gain knowledge about and awareness regarding organ transplantation treatment.